Donn Clendenon on Roberto Clemente

“A lot of people say he's temperamental. All athletes are temperamental to a certain extent but when I was with Pittsburgh, and I'd strike out, Clemente was always there to pep you up. He is the team leader the Pirates need because a lot of the guys go to him. He really is a super star. When I was in Pittsburgh, we had a good many black players and we needed Roberto's mature influence. He helped solidify the relationships many times.”

“He is a phenomenal athlete who came to play, and plays when he's hurt. He gives you 100 per cent. [...] When I played winter ball in Puerto Rico, I played in Ponce. Roberto played with San Juan. He would sit out the first half of the season there but play the second half as though his life depended on it. That's how he got in shape. When he reported to spring training in Florida, he was ready.”

“He violates many of the tested rules of hitting; by that, I mean he goes against what the greats of hitting like Ty Cobb and Ted Williams have said about hitting. He steps in the bucket but his hands are still there, ready to get the bat around on any pitch. He makes contact. He can wait on the ball and hit it down the first base line harder than most left-handers.”

“Playing with Roberto eight years had to help me. He would tell you what the pitchers were throwing—slider, fastball, or curve—and what pitch they would try to get you to hit. All the young kids look up to him, and when they see how he chases a fly ball and makes those diving catches and how he runs everything out going down the first base line; well, it makes a man play harder. No words are needed.”