R.I.P. Vera Clemente

The sports world lost one of the greatest humanitarian of the game nearly a half century ago when Roberto Clemente plane crashed while delivering supplies to Nicaragua.

This week, the great one's widow, Vera Clemente passed away.

Since Roberto's passing, Vera has been a constant by giving the award named after her late husband to the player who best exemplifies baseball, community, and sportsmanship each year.

The Pirates have had only two recipients win the award.  Clemente's former team mate, Willie Stargell (1979) and Andrew McCutchen (2015).

I have shown a bunch of cards of Cutch with Clemente on this blog in the past.

Back in 2015, Cutch and the Pirates were supposed to play the Miami Marlins in Puerto Rico on Roberto Clemente day.

Unfortunately (and fortunately for the players) due to a deadly mosquito virus the series was cancelled.

On multiple occasions Topps has even mirrored Cutch's Topps Heritage numbering to that of Roberto Clemente which I have shown in my Heritage Comparison segments. (I should get back to doing them as they were a lot of fun to research).

Roberto had a quote and I think he would be very proud of his wife for carrying on his work after his life was tragically cut short.

Thank you Roberto.
Thank you Vera.

You have made a difference in this World.