Catholic News Service tribute: When he was a young boy, Richard Rossi insisted that his dad get general-admission tickets behind right field at old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh so he could be as close as possible to his boyhood idol, Roberto Clemente.
The Hall of Fame outfielder’s passion for baseball, and Rossi’s passion for Clemente, continued as the Pirates moved to Three Rivers Stadium, where Pittsburgh won the World Series in 1971.
But on Dec. 31, 1972, fans everywhere were thunderstruck to learn that Clemente, who was collecting relief supplies for Nicaraguan earthquake victims, was killed when the overloaded plane carrying the supplies plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. Full report is here.
