Should MLB retire No. 21 in favor of Clemente?

[He Hate Me]

Some Hispanic group wants MLB to retire Cleente's no. 21 cross the board like they did with Jackie Robinson's 42. Personally I think it's a bit of overkill, I mean where would you stop? How about the first Japanese player? Does he get his number retired also? What about the first Polish guy, Canadian, Italian, etc. They gonna run out of numbers soon. besides 21 is also my favorite player's number

[Redguitar985]

Clemente didn't change the game the way Robinson did though. I can see the argument, but I don't think they should do it.

[gosox613]

aside from the fact that he was the first hispanic-american to be inducted into the hall of fame, he died trying to help out earthquake victims; a great man

[ARod2212]

Baseball has had and will continue to have "great men". If we keep universally retiring jerseys, there won't be any left.

 

The only other one number I would seriously consider retiring is #3, because Ruth really saved the sport.

[jsinger121]

no.....he was a great player and a great humanitarian but jackie robinson did more for the game in order to get players like clemente into the majors.

[gosox613]

no.....he was a great player and a great humanitarian but jackie robinson did more for the game in order to get players like clemente into the majors.

so then because robinson was better, it stops there?

[yankeessuck013]

I totally respect the work of Roberto, and what he did for the city of Pittsburgh, his country, and humanity.

 

However, his number doesn't need to be retired by EVERY MLB team out there. He will forever be THE epitome of what being a baseball player is, right along with Wagner, Traynor, Clarke, Stargell, etc.

 

This movement to try and make him out to be everyone's baseball hero is just not right.... I could not imagine the Pirates being forced to retire Ted Williams's number for example.

[jsinger121]

robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. he was a much more significant player in baseball history than roberto clemente. jackie robinson breaking the color barrier allowed players such as roberto clemente to play in the majors. robinson may not have been a better player but what he did for the game is the reason his number is retired throughout baseball.

[element1151]

Isn't one team enough these days....

[RedRuffing15]

I feel Jackies number deserved to be retired, and, pleasepleaseplease corect me if I'm worng, but I'm not sure Clemente had to go through as much off the field as Robinson did. Theres a bold, bold line between retired numbers by team and by league, what Robinson did not only changed baseball, but helped change how the racism and segrigation was being looked at. I do think, and I'm not sure if there is one, there should be a roberto Clemente day..becuase he still did something great, and died very tragecally. And another main reson why I think Robinson deserves to be the only player with their number retired for all teams is becuase hes the one who opened the door for all others who weren't accepted in the MLB before, and that makes him deserve to be at the level hes at, a level I doubt anyone will ever touch

[MC Hammer]

Roberto Clemente is looked up to by just about every single Latin baseball player the followed him. I don't believe his number should be retired around the league, as long as the he is remembered for his work on and off the field.

[26 to 6]

A very good friend of mine who also happens to be a latino asked me the same question about a year ago. I wouldnt be in favor of it. I wasnt in favor of Robinsons number being retired, and im not in favor of Ruth's. Retired numbers should be determined by the team retiring them based on the players contributions to that team. Clemente's number is retired in Pittsburgh, isnt that enough?

 

RedRuffing, yes, there is a Roberto Clemente day. I dont know if its annual (because I dont remember one this past year) but I remember one in the recent past.

[Optimist]

I imagine Clemente and Robinson would rather have us honor those who didn't make it to the top because of their circumstances.

[MC Hammer]

I imagine Clemente and Robinson would rather have us honor those who didn't make it to the top because of their circumstances.

Thats a good point. I'm sure both of them would trade in their retired numbers to give just one of the great stars that never got a chance, because of their race, a chance.

[Ray10]

He didn't do for baseball what guys like Babe Ruth did. He got his number retired in Pittsburgh I think that is enough. The guy was really kindhearted and helped alot of people but what is important is what he did on the field not off of it. The fact is he was good but not the best. His jersey number doesn't need to be retired from the MLB at all.

[nueva]

Well, Clemente brought hispanic diversity in, but back than it wasn't racisism on hispanics it was definitly blacks and them only. I think he doesn't deserve to be retire but if they do i wouldn't mind at all

[Optimist]

Well, Clemente brought hispanic diversity in, but back than it wasn't racisism on hispanics it was definitly blacks and them only. I think he doesn't deserve to be retire but if they do i wouldn't mind at all

 

...what?

[schillingouttheks]

:what:

[26 to 6]

Well, Clemente brought hispanic diversity in, but back than it wasn't racisism on hispanics it was definitly blacks and them only. I think he doesn't deserve to be retire but if they do i wouldn't mind at all

Na, there was racism towards Hispanics. Darker-Skinned hispanics werent allowed to play, they were forced to play in the negro leagues.