Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman PEDRO MEJIA
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman PAUL D. MORIARTY
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Timberlake
SYNOPSIS
Calls on United States Secretary of Interior to add Roberto Clemente’s place of death in Loíza, Puerto Rico to National Register of Historical Places.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution calling on the United States Secretary of the Interior to add Roberto Clemente’s place of death in Loíza, Puerto Rico to the National Register of Historical Places.
Whereas, Roberto Clemente Walker, born August 18, 1934 in Carolina, Puerto Rico, was an American baseball legend who played 18 seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in Major League Baseball (MLB); and
Whereas, Over his 18-year career, Roberto Clemente amassed numerous notable awards and achievements, including two World Series Championships, one World Series Most Valuable Player Award, one National League Most Valuable Player Award, 12 All-Star selections, 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, 3,000 career hits, and the only walk-off inside-the-park grand slam in professional baseball history; and
Whereas, Outside of baseball, Roberto Clemente embodied the values of a model citizen through his service to the United States and humanitarian efforts throughout the world; and
Whereas, Rather than play baseball in his native Puerto Rico during the 1958-59 MLB off-season, Clemente enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and served for six years as an infantryman; and
Whereas, Roberto Clemente’s various charitable and humanitarian efforts included hosting free baseball clinics for underprivileged youth, working tirelessly to promote greater accessibility and equality for Latino-Americans, and delivering significant financial aid to people in Puerto Rico and other countries in Latin America; and
Whereas, On December 31, 1972, Roberto Clemente tragically died at the age of 38 when a plane he chartered to bring food and relief supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua crashed near Piñones, in Loíza, Puerto Rico shortly after takeoff; and
Whereas, In 1973, after the mandatory five-year waiting period was waived to posthumously honor Roberto Clemente, he became the first Puerto Rican and first Latino inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame; and
Whereas, In 1973, the “Commissioner’s Award,” given annually to the MLB player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, and the individual’s contribution to his team,” was renamed the “Roberto Clemente Award” in honor of Clemente’s significant contributions on and off the baseball field; and
Whereas, Roberto Clemente was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Presidential Citizens Medal, and the Congressional Gold Medal for his civic and charitable contributions; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey has taken an active role in honoring the contributions of Roberto Clemente by dedicating various places in his honor, including the New Roberto Clemente School in the city of Paterson, the “Roberto Clemente Memorial Highway” section of State Highway Route No. 21 in the city of Newark, and an 8-foot statue of Clemente in Branch Brook Park in Newark, which is home to the Roberto Clemente Little League; and
Whereas, The United States Department of the Interior administers the National Register of Historic Places, which is the official list of the United States’ historic places worthy of preservation; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper that Roberto Clemente’s place of death in Loíza, Puerto Rico, be added to the National Register of Historic Places, to honor and preserve the memory of an American baseball legend and humanitarian; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully calls on the United States Secretary of the Interior to recognize the historical significance of Roberto Clemente’s place of death in Loíza, Puerto Rico, by adding it to the National Register of Historical Places.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the United States Secretary of the Interior and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution calls on the United States Secretary of the Interior to recognize the historical significance of Roberto Clemente’s place of death in Loíza, Puerto Rico, by adding it to the National Register of Historic Places.
Roberto Clemente Walker was born on August 18, 1934, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Roberto Clemente was an American baseball legend for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB). Throughout his 18-year career, Clemente amassed numerous awards and achievements, including two World Series Championships, a National League Most Valuable Player Award, and 3,000 career hits.
Despite his incredible accomplishments on the field, Roberto Clemente is renowned for his contributions off the field. For six years, Clemente served as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. In addition, Clemente was a humanitarian who worked on many charitable efforts. These efforts included hosting free baseball clinics for underprivileged youth and delivering significant financial aid to people in Puerto Rico and other countries in Latin America.
On December 31, 1972, Roberto Clemente tragically died at the age of 38 when a plane he chartered to bring food and relief supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua crashed near Piñones, in Loíza, Puerto Rico shortly after takeoff. In 1973, Clemente was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Also in 1973, the “Commissioner’s Award,” which is given to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, and the individual’s contribution to his team,” was renamed in his honor.
The State of New Jersey has taken an active role in honoring the contributions of Roberto Clemente by dedicating various places in his honor. Some of those dedications include the New Roberto Clemente School in the city of Paterson, the “Roberto Clemente Memorial Highway” section of State Highway Route No. 21 in the city of Newark, and an 8-foot statue of Clemente in Branch Brook Park in Newark. Branch Brook Park is also home to the Roberto Clemente Little League.
It is fitting and proper that Roberto Clemente’s place of death in Loíza, Puerto Rico, be added to the National Register of Historic Places, to honor and preserve the memory of an American baseball legend and humanitarian.