Pirates players, coaches honored to wear No. 21 in celebration of Roberto Clemente Day

The idea was hardly novel, but Derek Shelton’s push for Pittsburgh Pirates players and coaches to wear No. 21 on Roberto Clemente Day was a first, so the rookie manager couldn’t wait to share the news with one person in particular: Pirates third-base coach Joey Cora.

Joey, I got some news for you, Shelton said. Joey, we got it done!

Cora couldn’t contain his joy upon learning he will become the first Puerto Rican to wear No. 21 in a Pirates uniform since 1972 when the Pirates play the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 9 at PNC Park. Cora said it gave him goosebumps just to talk about the opportunity.

“It was almost like he wanted to cry at that moment. I wanted to cry, too,” Cora said Wednesday. “It was a huge moment, monumental. I don’t know if I have the words to express my gratitude to Derek for taking that initiative and getting the ball rolling.”

Added Shelton: “We almost did cry, by the way, too. Both of us.”

The Clemente family is all smiles at the thought of the Pirates wearing white uniforms with No. 21 on the front and back in honor of their father. It’s for a good cause, too, as fans can bid on the game-worn jerseys when they are placed for auction on pirates.auctions.mlb.com. All proceeds will benefit the Clemente Foundation and Pirates Charities.

The Clementes are hopeful this is the first step toward retiring No. 21 throughout baseball as a way to recognize the trail their father blazed for Latin players and the humanitarian efforts that led to his death on New Year’s Eve 1972. Clemente’s plane crashed after leaving from Puerto Rico to deliver relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

“Major League Baseball has been working really hard with us in looking at how to continue to honor Dad’s memory,” said Luis Clemente, president of the Clemente Foundation. “This is 2020. Next year is 2021. And then 2022 is the 50th anniversary of (Roberto’s death).

“We’re talking about how to continue to enhance that day and how we can continue to propose different ideas. They’re being considered. They’re being approved, and we’re happy about it. I feel that this is just the beginning. That’s why it’s so important. It’s so exciting that it happened, that it was approved. It is a platform to continue to grow on it. So we’re very happy and thankful to MLB also for this.”

Shelton was the driving force behind the initiative, which became a cause shortly after he was hired last November. He said he got “100% full support” from Pirates chairman Bob Nutting, president Travis Williams and general manager Ben Cherington, and Shelton pushed for MLB to give its blessing on Clemente Day, an annual celebration since 2002.

“It’s going to be a really special day,” Shelton said. “One of Clemente’s coolest sayings was, in my mind, ‘When I put on my uniform, I feel like I am the proudest man on earth.’ … I’m excited every day to be a major league manager. We’re grinding through some things right now, but I feel like I live that statement. I am extremely proud every day I put this on. It’s going to be an historic day. Cannot tell you how excited I am.”

Perhaps the only one more excited is Cora, a native of Caguas, P.R., who wore his pride for his homeland on his sleeve — and his hat — during an 11-year playing career as a second baseman with the San Diego Padres, White Sox, Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians.

“There are many Puerto Ricans who actually played in the majors, but the way Joey always represented us, always, he would have a Puerto Rican flag. He would have a rooster on his cap,” Roberto Clemente Jr. said. “You made the point that you were representing our culture, our island, and for you to be the one, that is very special for us, for the family. It could have been anyone, but it’s you.”

Cora wore Clemente’s number only one season in his career, when he played for the White Sox in 1991. To wear No. 21 with the same team where Clemente played his 18-year Hall of Fame career, won 12 Gold Gloves in right field and got his 3,000th hit in his final regular-season game is beyond special for Cora, who was beaming with pride while wearing a gray T-shirt with No. 21 on the front during a Zoom call.

“Wearing No. 21, as a Puerto Rican, as a Pirate, it means a lot,” Cora said. “To honor Roberto Clemente, not only the player but the person, it’s a huge, huge honor to be wearing No. 21. Even though it’s only one day, like Shelty said, ever since I got here with the Pirates, everybody knows what No. 21 means. I know there are people trying to get No. 21 retired. That will be great. Don’t get me wrong. But I think No. 21, especially here in Pittsburgh, especially the Puerto Rican players and in Puerto Rico, No. 21 is retired in our hearts.”

“Everybody knows what No. 21 means for us. They know it’s Roberto Clemente. When they see No. 21 in Pittsburgh, they know what that means. You don’t have to even mention Roberto Clemente. People know what 21 means. The number has been retired, in our spirits and in our hearts. That’s what is most important: It needs to be retired in our hearts.”