NEW YORK -- While he grew up in Venezuela, Diego Castillo made many trips in his youth to Puerto Rico to visit family. During those visits, the blossoming baseball fan was told stories about the humanitarian and Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente.
"People talk about him like he's a God," Castillo told me.
On Thursday, Castillo, the Pirates and the Mets all wore the number 21 at Citi Field on the 21st Roberto Clemente Day. Puerto Rican players and players who have won the Clemente award in the past are also eligible to wear 21 for the day.
“One of the things we’re doing is we’re not only honoring one of the best players in Pirates history and Major League Baseball history, but we’re honoring the greatest humanitarian,” Derek Shelton said. “I think we’re going to see today with the fact that all the people and former players that are going to come out onto the field who won this award — we’re talking about the highest, exemplary players in the game. That’s just carrying on Roberto’s legacy.”
Before the game, 14 former Clemente award winners were recognized on the field, the Puerto Rican national anthem was performed by musician Jose Feliciano, and Roberto Clemente Jr. and his son, Roberto Clemente III, threw out the first pitches of the game.
Of course, Clemente's greatest contributions came away from the baseball diamond. That's why on Thursday, Pirates employees took their communities as well, renovating a ball field at Mount Washington and painting a Clemente Mural at the boys and girls clubhouse in Lawrenceville to raise mental health awareness. They also created care packages for Friends of Fisher House for recovering veterans, made "boxes of cheer" for pediatric cancer patients and donated food and toys to Pittsburgh's Latino Community Center.
The 14 players who were honored on the field came together to help put together 10,000 meals for kids today as well.
David Bednar, the Pirates' nominee for the Clemente award for his work in the Pittsburgh and Mars communities, was not present at Citi Field because he is away from the team on a rehab assignment. The award goes to the player who, as the league states, "best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
It's high praise that is completely earned given Clemente's sacrifice. It's why many, including Shelton himself on social media, have championed the #Retire21 campaign to have Clemente's number retired league-wide alongside Jackie Robinson.
“I’m just really excited that we were allowed to wear [Number 21],” Shelton said. “They let Puerto Ricans decide to wear it and now the Mets are going to wear it. I think it’s just a really cool thing.”
Shelton played an instrumental part behind the scenes back in 2020 for the Pirates to all wear No. 21, including convincing the Clemente family. So could #Retire21 actually happen in the future? Shelton opines that "it is a situation where I think it's gaining more momentum."
Even it's just for the Pirates and select players for now, the distinction of being able to honor Clemente on the field by wearing his number is not lost on the team.
"When I'm wearing his number," Castillo said, "I'll feel proud of that."
