A True Story About Clemente
I came from the upper Alleghenies, getting to a baseball game for the second time, believe it was the summer of 65, and I would still be a 10 year old. Against the Phillies, the game went 16 innings, Phil won 4-3, only reason buccos stayed in it was Roberto went 5 for 7, scored 2 and drove in the other for the bucs, even had an assist at the plate that kept the game alive.
After the game, the adults that brought us down, agreed to let us stay and get autographs outside the Pirates exit at Forbes Field. Alas, being small for my age, I was getting overwhelmed by kids running to each player as they came out. Somewhat accidentally, I ended up positioned near an outlying door, all alone.
That door opened, out came Roberto, I asked him for his autograph, he said to me, and I shall always remember this, "Go see Phils, they won game". It crushed me. He hustled to his car before other kids could get to him, and headed out of the parking lot.
Sorry to say, I became a Giants fan after that, couldn't stand the rejection, and harbored a grudge whenever I heard Roberto called a great humanitarian who loved his fellow man.
I have long since realized that this was a case of an extra inning game, a very long day where he gave his all. But to a ten year old country hick, it was a crushing moment that is still embedded in the grey matter, visually and verbally. I don't begrudge Roberto any more, realize he was a very good person and a great ball player.
Unless you have multiple examples of misbehavior, any one instance is enough to carry a solid grudge on a player. Just sayin.
