The pick for the best athlete to wear number 21 may be the most difficult choice of them all. It was neck and neck on this decision. Warren Spahn versus Roberto Clemente. Pitcher versus Hitter. In the end, Roberto's offensive prowess, combined with his defensive strength, proved to be the tie breaker.
Here are some of "Bob" Clemente's acheivements:
- Hit better than .300 for the season, thirteen times
- 1966 NL MVP
- 12-time All-Star
- Two-time World Series Champ (1960 and 1971)
- 1971 World Series MVP
- Four-time NL batting leader
- Twelve Gold Gloves
Here is an interesting story about Roberto Clemente, relayed by my brother, who is a new resident of Pittsburgh. My brother was sitting in a bar in Pittsburgh, when his new neighbor walked in. They started chatting about sports and the subject of Roberto Clemente came up. His neighbor told him that he went to a Pirates game as a child and while the Pirates were warming up, he went down to field level to get Clemente's autograph. He sought out Clemente, and handed him his baseball glove to be signed. Clemente took the glove and walked away. Strange, huh? Well, when Clemente came back, the glove was signed by the entire Pirates team. That's the kind of guy Roberto Clemente was.
Pirates
Clemente
All-Star
Clemente not only was a great player but a great person. In this day and age of selfish athletes and crybaby millionaires - he is a refreshing name to see published again. New Year's Eve, December 31 1972 Clemente died in a tragic plane crash, the plane was taking medical, food and clothing supplies to earthquake stricken Nicaragua. Vera and friends begged him not to take the trip (poor weather and an unstable cargo plane) but Roberto was determined. He was infuriated that the previous supplies had not made it to the victims. Roberto was going to personally see to it that the victims received the much needed supplies. Unfortunately, the plane went down off the coast of Puerto Rico. Roberto's body was never found. Just months after Roberto joined an elite group of players with 3,000 hits, he was gone.
ReplyDeleteHonorable mention for Dominique Wilkins, but I agree with the pick.
ReplyDeleteNo Love for neon Deion. Find me a better Corner to ever play the game. Also hitting a homerun in MLB and scoring a touchdown in the NFL in the same week had never been accomplished before Prime Time.
ReplyDeleteOne-- Deion Sanders, statistically, wasn't a very great CB; but, he was flashy, and he did everything; returns; he even played wide out a bit...And Bo Jackson, among some other players did the whole baseball-football thing, so, that's not that impressive...And, I can find you many better CB's-- Mike Haynes, Willie Brown, Darrell Green, Mel Blount, Dick Lane, Mel Renfro, and Herb Adderley...
DeleteTomlinson? He's only the best running back in football.
ReplyDeleteClemens???
ReplyDeleteTim Duncan???????? Best PF ever in the NBA??????
ReplyDeleteTomlinson is not even the best LT. Adrian Peterson is going to shatter the house Tomlinson made.
ReplyDeleteClemente all the way.
Clemente was a great person and a fine baseball player, but Deion Sanders (also a great person -- not "Prime Time", but Deion) is the best player ever at the second-most-difficult position in the most team-oriented sport. Clemente was not the greatest outfielder ever, but Deion WAS the greatest defensive back ever.
ReplyDeleteDEION SANDERS...nothing further
ReplyDeletePrime Time is among the greatest athletes of all-time
ReplyDeleteRoberto Clemente was the greatest left fielder of all-time. A position where you need to have the strongest arm on the team.
ReplyDeleteHe was a right fielder. Still the greatest though.
DeleteWhat about Peter Forsberg
ReplyDeleteWhat about Peter Forsberg? Several better, that's what.
DeleteClemente, Sanders, Tomlinson, Duncan, Clemens. All better 21's than Forsberg. Nothing wrong with being a fan of Forsberg, but please, get real.
John Mayo
dang this is a good one id have to go with LT. Timmy Duncan and prime time is up there too. Clemente is such a classy guy that its hard to argue against. Dark horse Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers
ReplyDelete"LT" was, is, and always will be Lawrence Taylor. You can call Tomlinson "LT" all you want, but that doesn't make it so.
DeleteDon't forget about the winningest left hander in MLB history Warren Spahn
ReplyDeleteThis is a tough one. I'm not sure there is a clear cut winner.
ReplyDeletePrime Time! The only person to ever play in the World Series and the Super Bowl.
ReplyDeleteDeion was a spectacular athlete, no doubt. But Clemente's numbers and achievements are not disputable.
ReplyDeleteWarren Spahn: compare his war record with others: did they interrupt their careers to defend their country? A career that spanned three decades?
ReplyDeleteI love Paul O'Neill. Not suggesting he is the greatest #21, but I respect his ability, grittiness, and character. It's hard to find a more competitive #21.
ReplyDeleteSorry I would have to go with Deion Sanders on this one. He was one of the best shutdown corners ever to play the game of football. Much respect to the other guys but Deion comes out on top
ReplyDeleteDeion Sanders was one of the greatest athletes of all-time. Had he played baseball full-time he might have been an all-star in that sport too. Deion may not have the most interceptions, but it's not his fault that quarterbacks completely ignored that side of the field in most instances. He also never played free safety, like Rod Woodson did later in his career, a move that added a lot of INTs to his stats. He could cover his man with no safety help and he was the first person considered to be a true "shut down" corner. He could change the game as a cornerback and a returner.
ReplyDelete