Should Roberto Clemente's number be retired throughout all of baseball like Jackie Robinson's?

I say yes. Some are worried that if you retire another number you are only opening the door for many many others (there is a big push for Babe Ruth's number to be retired as well), but what sets Robinson and Clemente apart from everyone else is not their athletic ability, but the way they changed the game and how Americans view baseball, and especially off the field activities. There was no greater human being to ever play the game than Roberto Clemente, which is why he should be honored. Babe Ruth was a pompous asshole, albeit the greatest athlete to play the game, and doesn't fit into the same category.

10/24/2008 3:35:02 PM

tough call

i thought this thread was gonna be about Levi Watkins

10/24/2008 3:36:58 PM

I, too, watched SportsCenter in September.

10/24/2008 3:42:16 PM

You rang?

10/24/2008 3:44:07 PM

I thought:

10/24/2008 3:45:03 PM

No more league wide retired numbers

The Miami Heat retired Jordan's 23

Dumb as fuck imo

Would be like the Panthers retiring Jeff Garcia's 7

10/24/2008 3:47:01 PM

how the hell is that like the Panthers retiring Jeff Garcia's #7?

10/24/2008 4:30:10 PM

great analogy

10/24/2008 4:33:35 PM

i agree that retiring the number of someone who never played for your team is silly

10/24/2008 4:35:09 PM

I love this argument against 21 being retired.

Quote :

"Jackie Robinson is recognized by baseball for the impact he had on the game and on America by having his number recognized. Roberto Clemente's legacy is recognized by the Roberto Clemente Award; they are different, they are separate, they are both great recognitions of two great men, and it would be wonderful if they just stayed that way and were not blurred by having Clemente's legacy recognized in another fashion."

Yeah, because no other baseball great has an award named after them. You know, except for Hank Aaron, Cy Young, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, etc. Not to mention the fact that Robinson, in addition to his retired number, is also honored with the Jackie Robinson/Rookie of the Year Award.

10/24/2008 5:11:57 PM

^all four guys you mentioned are in the top 10 of all time great ball players. It's not exactly bad company....

10/24/2008 5:40:01 PM

I thought it was about




RIP

[Edited on October 24, 2008 at 8:07 PM. Reason : ewf]

10/24/2008 8:00:20 PM

10/24/2008 10:56:42 PM

I think it is dumb that any jersey be retired league-wide including Jackie Robinson's.

10/25/2008 1:16:21 AM

^ I agree

10/25/2008 9:47:01 AM

While we are at it, retire Barry Bonds' #24... his presence changed baseball forever (record books and steroids).
League-wide retiring of numbers is retarded.

10/26/2008 1:58:48 PM