Question 1

True or false: Clemente never won a Gold Glove Award because he lacked range in right field.

Accepted Answer

False. He won 12 consecutive Gold Gloves (1961–1972), known for his powerful, accurate arm and exceptional range.

Question 2

True or false: Clemente died in a plane crash while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

Accepted Answer

True. On December 31, 1972, his plane crashed off the coast of Puerto Rico en route to Nicaragua with relief supplies.

Question 3

True or false: Clemente never won a National League MVP award during his career.

Accepted Answer

False. He won the NL MVP in 1966, batting .317 with 29 home runs and 119 RBIs for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Question 4

True or false: Roberto Clemente was the first Latin American player to win a World Series as a starter.

Accepted Answer

True. He started for the Pirates in the 1960 and 1971 World Series, winning both, though others preceded him in earlier decades.

Question 5

True or false: Clemente recorded exactly 3,000 career hits, the last being a double off Jon Matlack.

Accepted Answer

True. His 3,000th hit came on September 30, 1972, a double in his final regular-season at-bat.

Question 6

True or false: Clemente’s number 21 was retired by Major League Baseball across all teams in 2021.

Accepted Answer

False. While MLB honors him annually on Roberto Clemente Day, his number 21 is only retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates, not league-wide.

Question 7

True or false: Clemente was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973 with a special election.

Accepted Answer

True. The Hall of Fame waived the five-year waiting period, and he was elected in a special vote just months after his death.

Question 8

True or false: Clemente once refused to play in a game because the umpire was from Puerto Rico.

Accepted Answer

False. No such incident occurred; Clemente was proud of his Puerto Rican heritage and played with fierce determination.

Roberto Clemente Trivia Questions