Today's blog post continues on my new thread extending the checklist of my favorite Topps odd-ball set, the 1971 "Baseball's Greatest Moments" rarity, this time adding a card for the great Roberto Clemente:
I
celebrated his fourth batting title of the decade in 1967, when he
paced the league with a .357 average along with his 209 hits.
In November of 1954 the Pittsburgh Pirates made one of the
all-time greatest moves when they purchased Clemente in the Rule 5
Draft, having him become one of the greatest, if not THE greatest player
in franchise history. Clemente's career is the stuff of legend: His fiery play on the field, his good deeds, and his absolute adoration by teammates and fans alike.
On the field Clemente's numbers were incredible: four batting titles, five seasons batting over .340, four 200 hit seasons, 12 all-star nods, 12 Gold Gloves and a Most Valuable Player Award in 1966.
Throw in his 3000 hits, 1416 runs scored and 1305 runs batted in and you see how the man was a lethal threat at the plate.
And a prime example of Clemente's importance to the game was his immediate induction into Cooperstown by special committee in 1973, waiving the standard five-year wait before a player joins the Hall ballot, as well as the establishment of the "Roberto Clemente Award", given every year to the player that exemplified "outstanding baseball playing skills who is personally involved in community work."