365 Days of Roberto Clemente

[quitcrab]

Picked up this booklet-Clemente is featured showing the youth of America how to Throw.

[quitcrab]

RC1.jpg

[docpatlv]

Originally Posted by quitcrab

Picked up this booklet-Clemente is featured showing the youth of America how to Throw.

Cool booklet. He did have one heck of an arm.

[JollyElm]

There was something, perhaps unnoticed by most, rather interesting in the video I posted, and I forgot to mention it. The interviewer repeatedly (respectfully) addresses Clemente as Roberto. And when he mentions how the press skipped over his 3,000th hit, he says something to the effect of, "Roberto Clemente only got a line or two in the magazine," etc. But at times when they're chatting, he unhesitatingly calls him "Bobby." They were clearly friends, or friendly towards each other. The demeanor between the two, the body language, etc., shows warmth, if not affection. These days (in hindsight), people love to bring up how 'racist' it was that he was called 'Bob' on many of his baseball cards (those same people just ignore the fact that a gazillion other players of all colors named Robert or William were called 'Bob' or 'Bill' on their cards, as that's clearly the accepted American shorthand for those names.) But if the people around him were using 'Bobby' when they conversed, then you have to wonder if that specifically ever really was as big an issue as some would have you believe.

(Please, for the love of God, no one start a friggin' argument about this. I'm just noting something that has puzzled me the last couple of years since I first heard that particular claim. While growing up, not once did I ever hear that 'Bob' Clemente was a racist thing.)

On a side note, I did a quick ebay search for "1964 Topps Bob" and came up with this long list of other (baseball) players who had the name 'Bob' or 'Bobby' on their cards that year. Surely, some of these 33 players went by Robert (or some other name) in their everyday lives, right??

Bob Allen
Bob Allison
Bob Aspromonte
Bob Bailey
Bobby Bolin
Bob Bruce
Bob Buhl
Bob Chance
Bob Duliba
Bob Friend
Bob Gibson
Bob Heffner
Bob Hendley
Bob Johnson
Bob Kennedy
Bobby Knoop
Bob Lee
Bob Lillis
Bob Meyer
Bob Miller
Bob Perry
Bob Priddy
Bob Purkey
Bob Rodgers
Bob Sadowski
Bob Saverine
Bob Shaw
Bob Skinner
Bob Taylor
Bob Tiefenauer
Bob Tillman
Bob Uecker
Bob Veale

[hcv123]

I believe this is the first time in history a "run" of Clemente bazooka boxes has been assembled! Reorganizing and enjoying some stuff this morning I figured it would be kind of cool to have them pose for a picture. Here is what is pictured:

1960 20 piece variation
1962 20 piece variation
1962 25 piece variation
1963 20 piece variation
1963 25 piece variation
1964 20 piece variation
1965 20 piece variation
1966 20 piece variation
1967 20 piece variation
1968
1971
1971 numbered test panel

I am still looking for 25 piece variations from 1960, 1964-1967 - anyone?

[71buc]

That’s quite a “bump” Howard, beautiful stuff

[docpatlv]

Amazing Bazooka collection Howard!

My Clemente collection is mostly on the back burner as I’ve shifted my focus (once again) and that’s where most of my $$$ are going.

[71buc]

I’m envious, I’ve never had one of those. What’s your new focus?