Pittsburgh Gifts Key To The City To Roberto Clemente's Family

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball honored one of the greatest.

It's the 20th annual Roberto Clemente Day. A day of honoring the life of the Pirates' great and his spirit of community service.

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Clemente's children and family gathered around his statue outside of PNC Park on Wednesday afternoon to mark the day.

Mayor Bill Peduto presented Roberto Clemente Jr. and Luis Clemente with the Key to the City to honor their late father and all he did for Pittsburgh.

"Dad was so proud of being a Puerto Rican. But also the fact that this city gave him the opportunity to play his whole career. He said he would never, ever play for anyone else," Luis Clemente said.

It was the first posthumously gifted Key to the City under the Peduto administration.

"We're proud of what Roberto did on the field. But today we will not only recognize that accomplishment, but the man himself," Mayor Peduto said.

Roberto Clemente spent 18 seasons with the Pirates, won two World Series titles and amassed 3,000 career hits. But he also hosted free baseball clinics for children and made numerous financial contributions to underserved countries.

Peduto also announced legislation is being written to change Roberto Clemente Road in Oakland to Roberto And Vera Clemente Road in honor of his late wife. That legislation will be introduced this week.

During Wednesday's game, the Pirates will take the field wearing Clemente's No. 21.

Earlier in the day, the Pirates' front office worked on two service projects in the Pittsburgh area.

In Beechview, volunteers spent the day working on the sports fields at Brashear High School. Over in Hazelwood, they patterned with the Mission Continues' Hazelwood Platoon to help with the involveMINT Food Recycling Center.

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