Rays field MLB's first all Latin-American lineup on Roberto Clemente Day
Major League Baseball celebrated Roberto Clemente day on Thursday, with players across the league wearing No. 21 to honor the legacy of the Hall of Fame outfielder and humanitarian.
The Tampa Bay Rays also made some fitting history on the day when they became the first team in Major League Baseball history to field a lineup made up entirely of Latin American players.
The Rays' lineup included Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena (Cuba), Wander Franco, Manuel Margot and Jose Siri (Dominican Republic), Harold Ramirez (Colombia), David Peralta and Rene Pinto (Venezuela), and Isaac Paredes (Mexico).
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Clemente's death. He was tragically killed in a plane crash while attempting to deliver relief supplies and aid to Nicaragua following an earthquake.
Every year the Roberto Clemente award is given out to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.”
Clemente finished his career with exactly 3,000 hits, 15 gold gloves and is regarded as one of the greatest defensive outfielders of all time.
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