Roberto Clemente 1957 Timeline

This is the 1957 installment in a chronology of memorable moments in the professional career of Roberto Clemente.

__ Apr 01 __ Memorable Meaningless Marathon

Called by TSN's Les Biederman, "one of the most unusual games in modern spring training history," Kansas City and Pittsburgh battle through 18 innings to a scoreless tie "before probably one of the smallest crowds of the season anywhere," reports Biederman, "only 432 paid admissions." Starting at 1:30 P. M., the game is called by mutual agreement at 5:27 because of impending darkness and high winds. Each team will use three pitchers, with the Athletics managing eleven safeties and the Bucs held to seven. Of the latter total, Roberto Clemente accumulates three, including the contest's only extra-base hits, a leadoff double to begin the game and a one-out double in the top of the 18th. He then saves the game in the bottom of the frame by gunning down Clete Boyer trying to go from first to third on Vic Power's single with none out.

__ Apr 21 __ Robby's Revenge: Clemente vs. Koufax

All-too-typically thankless RC outing: 3-for-5 and nothing to show:

• Stranded after 1st-inning leadoff single
• Second-inning single with runner in scoring position yields no run when runner is slow-footed John Powers.

Most notable moment here, however, is bases-empty, two-out, 8th-inning double with Bucs up, 6-0. Meaningless perhaps, but any hit off Koufax merits attention, and this is RC's first career extra-baser off his successor in Brooklyn's bonus baby basket.

__ Apr 26 __ DB's Quick Pitch Not Quick Enough

Clemente’s 7th-inning double drives in final run in this one-sided affair. Some years later, he will be reminded of this hit, which apparently has resulted from Don Bessent’s ill-advised attempt to quick-pitch whippet-wristed Roberto. It is Juan Marichal's misguided attempt to resurrect this failed strategy that will jog Clemente's memory some seven years hence.

"Clemente laughed in reminiscence. 'I don’t remember anybody try to quick-pitch me since Don Bessent do it with Brooklyn. I punch it for double.'"

__ May 03 __ RC's Circus Catch Not Quite Enough

"Only a great catch by outfielder Bob Clemente kept Aaron from his fourth extra base blow of last night's contest."

Spectacular save helps hold Braves in check while Bucs battle back to spoil seeming Braves blowout. Though Pitt pulls even one inning later, it all proves academic as Championship-bound Braves prevail in eleven.

__ May 11 __ Controversial Tape Measure IPHR

Even though this game is, for all intents and purposes, over before Pittsburgh ever comes to bat (i.e. 6 - 0, Phils, after half an inning), it is that very first Pirate at-bat, devoid of sabermetric significance though it may be, that provides this game's most memorable moment, namely Roberto Clemente's 440-plus-foot IPHR.

"Although the pair [of homers] by the Phils did the most damage, the inside-the-park job by Roberto Clemente in the first inning was the most thrilling. Clemente greeted Haddix with a line drive that gathered momentum as it approached Ashburn and took off over his head and ricocheted off the wall toward the batting cage. By the time Ashburn picked up the ball, Clemente was at third base and he made it to the plate without trouble. The hit provoked an argument between the Phillies and the umpires because the ball rolled under the batting cage but the Phils were told there was no ground rule to cover the situation."

__ May 16 __ Clemente HR Beats Pizarro, PART ONE

RC's 4th-inning blast aborts JP's embryonic no-hitter and puts Pitt ahead to stay.

"Clemente gave Bob Friend a lead against young Pizarro in the fourth when he sent his third home run of the season sailing into the few bleacherites in right field."

__ May 26 __ 6 Hits, 5 RBI and 2 Runs In Twin Bill Split

"In the opener, Clemente led the Pirate attack with three singles and a bases-loaded triple [to center] and five runs batted in. The Phils had to rally to win the second game, which barely got in under the 7 P.M. curfew... Gene Baker, Bill Mazeroski and Roberto Clemente sparked a late drive that erased a 3-0 Phillies lead... In the seventh, Clemente doubled and came home on Frank Thomas’ single to tie it."

__ Jun 03 __ Mays vs. Momen: Mays Makes One For the Ages

Momen's Encore Performance Hits Snag

Shades of RC's July 25, 1956 walkoff grand slam IPHR, this one is, likewise, light-tower-bound, though this time it's the more distant left-center tower. Unfortunately for him, stationed in CF on this occasion is his old buddy, W. Howard Mays.

"Mays made one of the greatest catches ever seen in Forbes Field. With 2 on and 1 out in the first inning, Mays raced to the light tower in center field, 440 feet from the plate, and caught Clemente’s drive while still on the run with his back to the diamond. He bumped into the light tower, but held the ball."

This also affords Mays some added measure of belated revenge for that more-than-2-year-old affront [5/6/1955].

__ Jun 09 __ Clemente Comes Up With 'Willie Mays' Catch

"Clemente came up with a Willie Mays catch to rob Del Crandall in the 11th inning of the opener... Clemente threw himself at the ball and grabbed it inches above the ground as he rolled on the turf... Clemente reinjured his back slightly on the catch and sat out the nightcap."

Perhaps unfortunately for Pittsburgh, RC does not ask out of the game immediately following his fearless and game-saving grab. Instead, a routine base hit off the bat of the very next batter, pinch-hitter Frank Torre, will skip under Clemente's glove, putting the winning run in scoring position with one out. One intentional walk later, future Pirate Johnny Logan delivers the goods with a single to left.

_ Jun 17 __ Clutch Cameo from Ailing Clemente

RC, early casualty of previous day's nightcap , comes off bench to take care of business.

"In the seventh, the Pirates tied the score at when Freese singled, Jim Pendleton walked, and Roberto Clemente doubled both home."

_ Jun 22 __ Ghost of Reds-Killers Past

RC continues to do his part but Pitt can't pull this one out.

"Clemente, a longtime Redleg nemesis, put the Bucs back in front in the seventh with a homer."

_ Aug 14 __ RC Does His Bit in Intra-State Rivalry

"Gene Freese, Bill Mazeroski, and Roberto Clemente each collected three hits, one of them a double by Clemente which scored Hank Foiles."

RC's 2nd-inning double knocks in fourth run and knocks out Phils' starter Curt Simmons. After Phils draw to within 4-3 in 3rd, RC helps Pitt put it away, sparking 4th-inning, 5-run rally with one-out single.

_ Aug 20 __ Another HOFer's Headache

"In their half of the eighth, the Pirates tied the score on Bob Clemente’s triple and a sacrifice fly... Spahn, who was in trouble on only two occasions, gave up seven hits, three of them to Clemente."