Roberto Clemente Walker, 1971 World Series
Photographer: Walter Iooss, Jr., Sports Illustrated. This is a wonderful image, and my sincere hope is that this image is in the public domain.
Photo Subject: First Inning of Game One of the 1971 World Series where Roberto Clemente slides into second base for a double.
Fun Fact: As a little leaguer, I remember a player on another team who could do a dead-on impression of the funky Roberto Clemente neck roll. It was freaky and cool at the same time, and I was totally envious. Supposedly, Clemente did this neck twitch not to be cool, but to help relieve severe neck pain due to muscle spasms and pinched nerves. Some opposing pitchers suspected this was a psych-out move since no one should be able to play with such reckless abandon and be in that much pain.
The Pirates greatest right fielder came to Pittsburgh through a circuitous route. The Giants, Braves and Dodgers had their eyes on Clemente, with the Dodgers getting first dibs on him. In 1954, the talent-rich Dodgers had Clemente playing off-and-on for them on their minor league Montreal Royals team and did not see the need to protect him in the upcoming draft.
Branch Rickey of the Pirates did see the value of this nineteen-year-old diamond-in-the-rough, and acquired the unprotected Clemente from the Dodgers. Still, I can’t help but wonder what the 1955 Dodger team would have looked like with Clemente in the outfield with these teammates: Gil Hodges, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Furillo and a young Sandy Koufax.
Painting Detail: Printed on 13 ” x 19” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details were made using Prismacolor pencils.
Acknowledgement: The History Behind How the Pittsburgh Pirates Acquired Roberto Clemente, Noah Wright.