Roberto Clemente Cause Of Death: How Did Roberto Clemente Die?

Late Puerto Rican baseball star, Roberto Clemente, died on December 31, 1972, following a plane crash that occured on his way to Nicaragua.

Clemente was aged 38.

There had been an earthquake at Nicaragua, the situation required urgent response and Clemente was traveling to deliver relief supplies to the earthquake devastated victims.

The second engine of the aircraft which Clemente boarded, had failed after take off, leading to the crash that claimed his life and some others.

The bodies of the crash victims were never found. Further investigations had revealed that the plane’s engines were over-boosted and not properly maintained.

In 1973, there was a posthumous induction conducted for Clemente into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In 2002, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Who Was Roberto Clemente?

Roberto Clemente was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player born on August 18, 1934.

Clemente played as a right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the MLB, for 18 seasons.

He spent most of his off seasons doing charity work in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The 13-season All-Star emerged as the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1966, the NL batting leader in 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967.

Clemente had won the World Series twice, as well as a Gold Glove Award for 12 seasons back to back.