ROBERTO CLEMENTE

A hagiographic account of the rise, career, and legacy of the first Latine player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Noting that his life was shaped by “many strong women”—like his hardworking mother, Luisa, who could lift entire beef carcasses with her “powerful shoulders and arms”—the authors characterize their subject as a “strong, passionate kid” who succeeded through relentless dedication to achieving his goals, continued to play at a high level despite injuries, and, to the end of his life in a plane crash (delivering relief supplies to Nicaragua in the wake of an earthquake), never lost either his pride or his concern for the welfare of others. His private life and religious faith receive at best cursory notice and his baseball career little more, but along with the Taíno, Spanish, and African cultural milieu in which he grew up, both the colorism he faced (being relatively dark skinned) in his native Puerto Rico and the racial prejudice he encountered there and while playing in the States both from the media and his teammates receive indignant scrutiny. Gutierrez adds realistically modeled portraits of Clemente in various team uniforms on and off the field or posing with his family and friends. The final chapter of posthumous awards and accolades ends with a challenge to readers: “He moved others to help people and make a difference, to not ‘waste their time on this Earth.’ How will you make the most of your time here?”

Straight-up hero worship, with highlighted issues of racism adding context to his times and luster to his achievements.