Clemente Park
History
Clemente Park lies adjacent to Roberto Clemente High School on the city's west side. Part of Chicago's "school-park program," the park and its fieldhouse have been jointly operated by the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Board of Education since 1971. In 1991, the park district sold the property to the Board of Education, which has leased it back to the park district since that time.
Baseball great Roberto Clemente (1934-1972) was the first Hispanic player inducted into the Hall of Fame. Clemente played 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, from 1955 to 1972. He remains the Pirates' all-time leader in games played, "at bats," hits, singles, and total bases run. In 1971, Clemente was named the World Series' Most Valuable Player. Other career highlights included four batting titles, 12 Gold Gloves, and 12 All Star Game nominations. Clemente died in an airplane crash in 1972 while delivering supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. He once said: "Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don't, then you are wasting your time on this earth."
