Roberto Clemente

Clemente debuted with the Pirates on April 17, 1955, wearing uniform number 13, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Despite racial and ethnic tensions, as well as sniping by the local media and some teammates. Clemente responded by saying "I don't believe in color." He noted that, during his upbringing, he was taught never to discriminate against someone based on ethnicity.

The Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series. Clemente led the league with a .353 batting average, and the 14 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs recorded in May alone. Clemente feels slighted after finishing 8th in the National League Most Valuable Player voting.

With the American League (AL) ahead 4–3 in the 10th inning, he teamed with fellow future Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson to engineer a come-from-behind 5–4 National League (NL) victory, culminating in Clemente's walk-off single off knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm. Clemente started again in right field for the second All-Star game held that season and was 0 for 2, flying and grounding out in the 2nd and 4th innings. Clemente records 27 outfield assists and wins the first of 12 consecutive Gold Gloves for his defensive play in right field. Clemente also leads the National League in batting, finishing the season with a .351 average.

In what is widely considered his best season, Clemente wins the National League Most Valuable Player award. He hits .317 with 29 home runs and 119 runs batted in.

Clemente wins his fourth (and final) NL batting title with a .357 average.

The Pirates won the NL East, defeated the San Francisco Giants in four games to win the NL pennant, and faced the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Clemente hits safely in all seven games, including a pivotal home run in Game 7. He is named the World Series Most Valuable Player.

Clemente doubles against the New York Mets in his last game of the season (He also made the annual NL All-Star roster for the twelfth time, he played in 14/15 All-Star games, and won his twelfth consecutive Gold Glove), marking career hit 3,000. He is the first Latin player and just the 11th in baseball history (at that time) to reach the milestone. He dedicates the hit to "the Pittsburgh fans and to the people in Puerto Rico."

A devastating earthquake hits Managua, Nicaragua. Clemente decides to gather relief supplies and help deliver them to quake survivors. Later that week,the plane Clemente charters for his humanitarian mission crashes into the ocean shortly after takeoff, killing the baseball star and four crew members.

In an unprecedented move, The Baseball Hall of Fame unanimously waives the customary five-year period for induction, allowing the Baseball Writers Association of America to hold a special election on Clemente's behalf. Clemente is inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame. He is the first Latin-born player so honored..