Wheaties Pays Tribute To Roberto Clemente.

Wheaties will commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month with the release of a new special-edition package honoring the late Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. The package was unveiled today at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, with members of the Clemente family and representatives of Major League Baseball taking part in the ceremony.

Clemente’s legacy includes both an illustrious 18-year Major League Baseball career with the Pirates as well as an unwavering commitment to community service. On the field, Clemente earned 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards and four batting titles. A 12-time All-Star, he was named National League MVP in 1966 and World Series MVP in 1971, when he hit .414 in leading the Pirates to the championship. Clemente hit safely in all seven games of the 1960 World Series and all seven games of the 1971 World Series, making him perfect in every Fall Classic game in which he appeared. He compiled 3,000 career hits and in 1973 became the first Hispanic player elected by the baseball writers to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He became only the second (and last) Major League Baseball player to have the five-year waiting period waived by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors.

Off the field, however, Clemente left his legacy with a steadfast dedication to serving others. He dreamed of one day building a facility in his homeland of Puerto Rico where youngsters could hone their athletic skills and pursue their dreams. Tragically, Clemente died on December 31, 1972, when the DC-7 carrying relief supplies he had organized for Nicaraguan earthquake victims crashed off the coast of Puerto Rico. At age 38, he left behind a wife and three sons, but his dream lived on with the 1974 establishment of Roberto Clemente Sports City in Puerto Rico (more information about Roberto Clemente Sports City is available at http://www.robertoclemente21.com).

Each year, Major League Baseball keeps his legacy alive with the Roberto Clemente Award presented by John Hancock which is awarded to the player who combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community. In addition, Major League Baseball will celebrate Roberto Clemente Day today across the league. Roberto Clemente Day was established in 2002 to further honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially recognize the 30 local Club recipients of the award which bears his name.

“This is a great honor for my family and will help continue my father’s legacy,” said Roberto Clemente Jr., eldest of Clemente’s sons. “Now, people all across the country will be able to share my father’s story as they read about it on the Wheaties box.” Clemente Jr. authored the copy on the back panel of the new box, which pays tribute to his father’s story.

“Roberto Clemente distinguished himself with his remarkable baseball skills and his singular focus on community service,” said Wheaties Marketing Manager Eric Treschuk. “He truly exemplifies the ideals of a Wheaties champion, and we are humbled to welcome him into the Wheaties family.”

“Roberto Clemente has left an indelible mark on the game with both his on-field accomplishments and his tireless dedication to helping those in need,” said John Brody, Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales & Marketing, Major League Baseball Properties. “By honoring his legacy on this fourth-annual Roberto Clemente Day, Wheaties will help us commemorate his life and the incredible contributions which made him a true champion.”

The new 18-ounce Wheaties package will be available nationally beginning this week. A special Commemorative Series Collector’s Edition package with gold-foil printing also will be released at the same time. Other notable Pittsburgh Pirates to appear on the Wheaties box through the years include Arky Vaughn (1937) and Ralph Kiner (1952).