Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Married Vera Christina Zabala November 14, 1964. They had three sons.

Clemente played professional baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates 1955 to 1972. He was named 12 times to the all-star team and was four time National League Batting Champion. In his career he had 3000 hits and won 12 Golden Gloves Awards. He was named Most Valuable Player in the league in 1966 and Most Valuable Player in the 1971 World Series. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame August 6, 1973.

In 1972 a devastating earthquake struck Managua, Nicaragua. Clemente was involved with the relief effort. He died when his plane carrying relief supplies crashed into the sea near Puerto Rico.

Congress honored Clemente with a gold medal by resolution May 14, 1973. It was designed by Virgil Cantini. The authorized mintage for bronze copies was 200,000 pieces.

legal ref: Public Law 93-33, 87 Stat.71

bio: CBY 1972; WWWA-5

obit: CB Feb 73' NYT 1/2/1973