Do you think Roberto Clemente's Playing Career gets overated because of his tragic death?

Question

First off let me say Clemente was a tremendous player easily a HOFer and his humanitarian efforts speak volumes about him

However is he as good as many people fell he is.

The numbers are good

3000hits

about 250HRs

Good numbers but Top 10 of all time as some put him in?

My pt if Clemnte hadn't died in 1970 would people still consider hm as good as they do now? The oither variable is whta he'd do if his career had gone on.

Answer 1

well lets put it this way, had he died of a cocaine overdose in Nicaragua, there would be no way people spoke of him in the same light, so yes, he is partially overrated as a baseball player due to the circumstances surrounding his death.  

Answer 2

clemente had a amazing arm he hit 388 hr and 3010 hits also had 3 50+ homer seasons and a 55 homer season and 2 mvps and 5 silver sluggers and 5 gold gloves

Answer 3

HE WAS STELLAR DEFENSIVELY AS WELL AS OFFENSIVELY BUT TOP TEN I THINK NOT

Answer 4

Consider that those 3000 hits were achieved with maybe 4 (or more) years left in his career.  If he hadn't died, he probably would have ended around 3400 or so, which would have put him solidly in the top 10 all-time.

Fielding, he was almost without peer: Willie Mays was the only other outfielder in history with 12 Gold Gloves.

On the power stats, you're not going to find much.  He did OK for his era and quite well considering that he played most of his career in homer-unfriendly Forbes field, but even if he'd played in a more amenable park and lived longer, he probably wouldn't have been much over 350 HR.

Overall - I agree that putting him in the top 10 all-time is probably overly generous.  However, when he played he was on par with the other great outfielders of the era (Aaron, Mays, F. Robinson), and everything except his power numbers was equal to them.  I'd put him in probably the top 30 position players of all time.

Answer 5

I give u a lot of guts for asking this because a lot of people would get mad. But I think its something interesting to look at. I dont have his stats right in front of my face right now but I would say his off the field actions did (to an extent) boost how he was viewed on the field.

Yes he was a great player but you never know.

Answer 6

No. In addition to getting 3,000 hits and hitting .317 life time he also won 12 gold gloves in a row.

He was a solid two player.  

As for his age. He actually got better with age. He hit .345 at the age of 34, .352 at the age of 35, .341 at the age of 36.  

Answer 7

Im sure it makes people look at him in a better way but he was a great player.   They rate outfielders arms out of 60  and he was one of few that has been rated a perfect 60.  Was he the best outfielder of all time,  I dont beleive so.  Is he in the top 10 outfeilders of all time.  100% for sure.

Answer 8

Not overrated at all, he was an amazing player

Answer 9

12 time All Star. 12 time Gold Glove winner. One of only four players with ten or more Gold Gloves and a lifetime average over .300. Yes, he may be more known because of the manner in which he died, but he was, without a doubt, a great player.

I really haven't seen anyone rate him as top ten all-time though. Perhaps top ten right fielders, but not overall.

Answer 10

Roberto was a great player and better person. I don't think his playing has been overrated, just publicized. He had 3000 hits and of course with 2 or 3 more seasons easily could've finished with 3300 or so. Not 4000, I know that. His rifle arm has been equalized by just a handful of players after. He is one of a handful of players that have been inducted into the HOF before the mandatory 5 years after his last full season.

To us latins, he is an icon. He was the first latin player in the HOF and people everywhere adore him not only because he tried to help, but because of his playing in the Majors. He has difficult times trying to manage against racism against black people and latins, which is double of what Aaron, Robinson and Mays went through for part of their careers. So I don't think he has been overrated, he is and always will be a great player, one of the best.

Answer 11

Partially related to his tragic death.  He died in a plane crash when he attempted to help the Niguarian people.  

Answer 12

Si, can't go on what people could have done.

Answer 13

opps, soory! I wrote my answer in the wrong question! :(

Answer 14

Clemente died on Dec. 31, 1972, not 1970.  Because of how he kept his body in shape, those final 3 or 4 years could have been pretty productive.  At 3500 hits and 300HRs, you might look at his overall body of work differently.

Plus, he didn't get much national media attention, playing in Pittsburgh.  He did show his ability in big games, though hitting safely in all 14 World Series games in which he played (1960 and 1971).

Answer 15

well he was apart of breaking the color barrier in baseball

and that is why he is looked at so good

you do bring up some good points and he would not of got to 400 hits unless he played for another 5 years which he wasnt

Answer 16

I understand your question. All I can say is, you had to be there. What stats don't show is how well he played. He was charismatic and as complete a player as there ever was. You don't see in the stats how many players WEREN'T thrown out by him because they never tried. You don't see how his single that sent the runner ahead of him to third could ignite the team and the crowd. You also don't see all the little Hispanic kids who watched him.

No, he isn't over-rated because of the plane crash. The plane crash was just part of the way the man really did live his life. He deserves the praise he gets. You just had to be there.