Top 10 Puerto Rican-born MLB players in honor of Roberto Clemente Day

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 11: Bernie Williams #51 of Puerto Rico waves the Puerto Rican flag after a 5-0 win against The Netherlands during the 2009 World Baseball Classic Pool D match on March 11, 2009 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 11: Bernie Williams #51 of Puerto Rico waves the Puerto Rican flag after a 5-0 win against The Netherlands during the 2009 World Baseball Classic Pool D match on March 11, 2009 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
5 of 5
MLB Players, Roberto Clemente Day
PITTSBURGH – Roberto Clemente #21 of the Pittsburgh Pirates (Photo by: Morris Berman/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The greatest Puerto Rican MLB player of all time needs no introduction.

Finally, you have Roberto Clemente, the greatest Puerto Rican player of all time. As I mentioned in a prior piece, my feeling is that this day shouldn’t be limited to players from PR. Clemente is a god in Latin America altogether.

Clemente played 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and accumulated one of the most impressive stats sheets in the history of the game. Among his greatest individual accomplishments are two 200+ H seasons, a league-leading 13 3B in 1969, FOUR batting titles, and an MVP award in 1966.

More from MLB News

If he were alive today, however, I’m sure his proudest accomplishment on the field is having TWO World Series rings, especially being crowned the 1971 World Series MVP.

For his career, Clemente was selected to 15 All-Star games and has 12 Gold Glove awards.

On this day, we honor Roberto Clemente, not because of his accomplishments on the ballfield, however. It’s because of his actions off the field. After a deadly earthquake struck Nicaragua, Clemente organized a relief effort from his home in Puerto Rico.En route to deliver relief supplies to victims of this earthquake, the plan Clemente was on crashed, ending the legend’s life far too soon.

Also in his honor, the Roberto Clemente Award was created. It is awarded to a player who embodies Clemente’s selfless nature. On a day like today, all Latino players should be allowed to wear No. 21.