Category: Oakland Athletics

M’s 3 run third holds up in 4-2 win over A’s; Oakland two games back in Wild Card

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Seattle Mariners Kyle Seager belts a two run double in the third inning against Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Mon Sep 20, 2021 in the first of a four game series (AP News photo)

Seattle 4 – 10 – 0

Oakland 2 – 7 – 0

By Lewis Rubman

Monday September 20, 2021

OAKLAND–Tonight, the A’s opened their current, final home stand of the 202 1 season, a skein of seven games against Seattle and Houston, knowing full well that each contest will be vital to their chances of surviving to play in the post season.

Fangraphs gives them a razor thin chance of 1.5% of seizing the division crown out of the faltering hands of the Atros. Their chances of winning the wild card game go up to 8.5%. (Houston’s chances are rated at 0.5, but that’s because the folks at Fangraphs don’t think that they’ll have to participate in that particular crap shoot). They’ve got a 10% shot at making the playoffs.

Oakland’s out of division rivals, the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Yankees all have better chances than Oakland of getting past the wild card stage, ranging from 28.9% for the Bronx Bombers to 88.8% for the Box, with Toronto at 70.6%. Seattle, going into the fray two games behind the green and gold, may well finish higher than the home town when all is said and done, but Fangraphs still gives them only a 0.8% shot at a necessary but not sufficient wild card win.

Tonight’s results, a. 4-2 win for the M´s, featured a masterly pitching performance by journey man starter Tyler Anderson and bought his team to within one game of A’s in the battle for second place in the AL West.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the top of the third. Tom Murphy hit Manaea’s first offering on the frame to the center field wall, where Starling Marte corralled it in front of the 400 foot marker for the first out. Dylan Moore, JP Crawford, and Ty France followed with sharply hit singles that brought Moore, the number nine batter, around to record the game’s first tally.

A 3-2 walk to Mitch Haniger clogged the basepaths with clean-up hitter Kyle Seager at the plate. He blasted a double to the Rickey Henderson Field sign in left center, driving in Crawford and France while Haniger advanced to third. Drawing strength from adversity, Manaea struck out Luis Torres and got Abraham Toro out on a fly to Canha in left. But the A’s southpaw had seen his pitch count jump from 23 at the end of the second inning to 57 when the Athletics returned to the dugout facing a three run deficit.

Oakland responded to the challenge in their half of the third with back to back doubles by Chad Pinder and Khris Davis, cutting Seattle’s lead to 3-1. Elvis Andrus’s sacrifice bunt to the mound moved Davis over to third, where he was stranded when Marte grounded out to short, making the A’s center fielder 0 for his last 17.

Haniger banged a 92 mph sinker off the Kaiser Permanente sign in right center with one down in the fifth for his second two bagger of the night. Seager’s line drive single to right center brought Haniger with the fourth Mariner run, but Pinder’s throw to Andrus caught the Seattle third sacker trying to stretch his hit into a double. Manaea then made a nice play, going to his right to snatch Luis Torrens’ bouncer and throw the DH out a first, but he didn’t come out to pitch the sixth. That task fell to Domingo Acvedo.

In his five innings of work, the A’s starter surrendered four runs, all earned, on eight hits and a walk. He struck out one Mariner and threw 86 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Acevedo pitched two scoreless innings, allowing a one out double to Crawford in the seventh but nothing else. Sam Moll, recalled yesterday from Las Vegas, replaced him for the eighth.

After throwing seven innings of one run, four hit ball, Anderson was replaced by Diego. Castillo. Seattle’s starter struck out seven and walked one. 66 of his 91 pitches were strikes. The single tally he allowed was earned.

Castillo got Jed Lowrie, hitting for Davis, out on a fly to center, Andrus and Harrison delivered back to back singles to right, and Marte, breaking an 0 for 18 slump, singled the former home while the latter stopped at second. That ended Castillo’s brief outing and brought Paul Sewald into the game to pitch to Olson.

Home plate umpire Rob Drake called him out on an 0-2 slider, much to the displeasure of many of the 4,068 fans in attendance. He then got Chapman out, swinging and missing on an 0-2 93 mph four seamer.

Deolis Guerra came on for the ninth, hoping to keep the score at 4-2 and give Oakland a reasonable chance of a ninth inning comeback. He set the M’s down in order.

Sewald stayed in the game to face Tony Kemp, pinch hitfor Gomes. He flew out to right. Next in line was Canha, who popped out to first. Seth Brown batted for Pinder who took a called third strike over the outside corner.

Anderson got the well earned win, bringing his record to 7-9, 4.01. Manaea took the loss and now stands at 10-10, 4.05. Sewald earned his ninth save of the year.

The A’s will try to resume their winning ways Tuesday at 6:40, with Paul Blackburn (1-2,4.94) taking the mound against Marco González (8-5,4,95).

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Jefferies out with elbow injury; Bassitt mending very well

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s pitcher Daulton Jefferies has been sidelined with right elbow irritation and has been placed on the Injured List as of Sat Sep 18, 2021 (file photo San Francisco Chronicle)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara, you have discussed many times on the program about the pitching and bullpen issues of the A’s. The A’s just recently have shelved pitcher Daulton Jefferies with a right elbow injury ulnar neuritis. Jefferies was showing signs of improvement but was put on the IL on Saturday.

#2 A’s manager Bob Melvin said that Jefferies elbow started bothering him after his last pitching performance on Sep 12. Jefferies relieved against the Texas Rangers and went 3 1/3 innings. Melvin said that Jefferies injury didn’t have anything to do with a ligament but was nerve irritation.

#3 Jefferies was supposed to start Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim but was replaced by James Kaprielian who went six innings and gave up two hits and struck out five in the A’s 3-1 win. Kaprielian really saved the day as the A’s cut the lead in the AL Wild Card race down to two games.

#4 A’s starter Chris Bassitt continued his rehab throwing 30 pitches on Saturday mixing them up with fastballs and a mix of other pitches. Bassitt faced switch hitter Skye Bolt. Bassitt also got to throw between innings simulating warms ups. Melvin said “He looked really good out there today.”

#5 The Seattle Mariners are in Oakland tonight to face the A’s the Mariners starting pitcher Tyler Anderson (6-9 ERA 4.14) and the A’s will go with Sean Manaea (10-9 ERA 3.95) a 6:40 pm PDT at the Oakland Ring Central Coliseum.

Barbara does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Win, Late Drama Included For Free: Miscues late almost ruin 3-2 win over the Angels

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

Yeah, yeah, the A’s bullpen… but here’s a twist: this time Lou Trivino was the hero with a warm, Southern California breeze sprinkled in.

Trivino came on to record the final five outs of the game–without allowing a hit or a walk–after the Angels scored a pair of ninth inning runs to break up a shutout authored by starter Frankie Montas and Jake Diekman, who combined to put the home team asleep for eight innings, allowing just one hit.

The A’s secured a 3-2 win in Anaheim to sweep the series–and keep their playoff hopes alive–when Mark Canha singled, and Jed Lowrie followed with a sacrifice fly to score placed runner Matt Olson in the top of the 10th.

Winners of five straight, the A’s still face daunting odds to pass the Yankees (who lost Sunday) and either the Red Sox or Blue Jays (both who won) to secure one of the two wild card spots. Among the biggest of the A’s challenges: they’re in the midst of a 16-games in 16-days stretch that won’t digest any easier after Sunday’s heart stopper.

But before all of what come’s next, the A’s have to be proud of themselves for what was accomplished in Anaheim. Not only did they complete a road sweep, they finished 15-4 in the season series against the Angels, a domination of a division rival that’s almost a prerequisite to gaining a playoff berth these days. But not only that, the A’s stood up to Shohei Ohtani, who was terrific, firing darts across the plate for eight innings.

Ohtani struck out ten, utilizing his splitter on more than half of his 108 pitches across eight innings. He was energized, showing great life on his fastball late in the game when he struck out the side in the seventh, and fanned Matt Chapman in the eighth with a couple of the pitches hitting 98 mph. But Ohtani failed to keep Yan Gomes in the ballpark in the third, and Chapman from circling bases in the fourth. The two solo shots were the difference–until the late drama–as Ohtani allowed three other hits and no walks in his the third longest outing of his career.

But Montas was just as good.

The A’s ace in the absence of the miraculously healing Chris Bassitt took full advantage of an Anaheim lineup that was absent of the normal big names with the exception of Ohtani, who he smartly walked twice. Beyond that, Montas struck out seven, walked two others for a total of four, and allowed a double to Brandon Marsh in the third inning with two outs. Montas then shut that down, by issuing a pass to Ohtani, and striking out Phil Gosselin to end the inning.

“When you go up against Ohtani, you know you have to be really good, and he was,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He matched him all the way until both were out of the game and out-pitched him really.”

But as so many baseball games go, the pitching gems didn’t decide it, instead the follies almost did.

Romo, hardly an ideal closer given the lack of velocity on his pitches, was called upon in the ninth, a role he’s assumed following Trivino’s well-chronicled struggles. Almost immediately, Romo fell into straights allowing a double to Gosselin, and an infield single to Jared Walsh after throwing just six pitches. After Luis Rengifo grounded out, but advanced the runners, Jose Rojas delivered a single to left that plated Gosselin. But Seth Brown’s throw to the plate–with Walsh held at third–sailed over Gomes at the plate and to the backstop. That pinned an error on Brown, freed up Walsh, and allowed the Angels to tie the game.

Just that quick–after 10 pitches–Romo was done, and Trivino was summoned. On six pitches, Trivino struck out Max Stassi and Jack Mayfield (both looking) to keep the Angels from grabbing a lead.

“It’s demoralizing to give up the lead,” Melvin said. “You have to go back out there and work for it again and they did. It doesn’t surprise me.”

In the tenth with the lead, Trivino did it again. He got David Fletcher to ground out, Brandon Marsh to ground into a fielder’s choice, wiping out Mayfield, the runner placed at second to start the inning. Then he got Kean Wong to fly out to end it, all done with eight pitches.

In five outings ending September 4, Trivino allowed runs in each appearance, all in games that the A’s ended up losing. That cost Trivino his closer’s role. But this week, he’s been better: despite allowing five hits combined in appearances Wednesday and Friday, he posted two holds and a win.

“Huge for him kind of getting back to what he’s been doing here for the better part of the season,” Melvin said. “Great for us, great for his confidence and obviously the timeliness of it was huge.”

The A’s open up a four-game set with Seattle at the Coliseum on Monday night. Sean Manaea will be opposed by the Mariners’ Tyler Anderson, who’s allowed three home runs and five walks in his two most recent starts and has a 6-9 record on the season.

A’s Continue To Roll Past Angels 3-1; A’s now 2 games back in AL Wild Card race

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani swings for a broken bat single in the seventh inning Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy watches at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Sat Sep 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

A’s Continue To Roll Past Angels

By Barbara Mason

After holding on in a very tight game, the Oakland A’s beat the Los Angels Angels in game one of their three game series 5-4. The bullpen, which has really been struggling, had a great game.

In tonight’s game the A’s had James Kaprielian starting the game and the Angels had Jose Suarez on the mound. His ERA is 3.59 and Kaprielian is a 3.83 ERA. The A’s took game two of the three game series on Saturday night 3-1 at Angels Stadium in Anaheim.

The first inning was a very productive one for the A’s. The one thing that we did not see in last night’s game was the long ball and Matt Olson took care of that in his first at bat. He had a solo home run followed by a Mark Canha walk, a Chad Pinder double and a Matt Chapman double. When the dust had settled the A’s had an early 3-0 lead.

The pitching rose to a new level as both pitchers dismissed batters right and left. Both players had very nice performances through six innings.

Due to pitch count Suarez came out of the game in the sixth inning and was relieved by Oliver Ortega who finished off Oakland in the inning.

After six full innings Oakland held their 3-0 lead. There was not a lot of offense for either team after that first inning.

In a surprising move Deolis Guerra came in to relieve Kaprielian in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kaprielian would have faced Ohtani who had already flied out and struck out. Guerra gave up a hit to Ohtani in the seventh inning in Shohei’s third at bat. An apparent double play was reversed and there were two out and two on in the bottom of the inning for the Angels.

Los Angeles did get one run in the inning after the reversed call. The A’s were a bit unnerved after that call. The entire team had left the field when the double play was called by the ref. They managed to pull it back together allowing the one run and still led 3-1 going into the eighth inning.

In six innings Kaprielian allowed two hits and in one inning Guerra allowed three hits. With 90 pitches it would seem that Kaprielian had one more inning in him. The Oakland bullpen had to get through two more innings for their second win of this series.

It was a very nervous ninth inning with the bases loaded for the Angels. With two outs Josh Harrison would leap up and catch a line drive to end the game. This was a critical catch for the A’s. If Harrison doesn’t make that catch this game is tied so a great game for Oakland.

The A’s will play an afternoon game tomorrow in the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:07. Frankie Montas will be on the mound for Oakland and in a surprise Shohei Ohtani has the nod for the Angels. His sore arm has healed in record time and so this will be a great matchup.

A’s Win Game One of Angels Series 5-4

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Angel designated hitter Shohei Ohtani takes a few warm up swings on the on deck circle in preparation in facing Oakland A’s reliever Jake Diekman in the top of the seventh inning at the Oakland Ring Central Coliseum in Oakland on Fri Sep 17, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After winning their series with the Kansas City Royals the Oakland A’s traveled to southern California to take on the Los Angeles Angels in a three game series.

Cole Irvin was on the mound for Oakland and Jhonathan Diaz started for the Angels. Irvin has a 3.97 ERA and Diaz comes in with a 10.80 ERA.

The A’s took the early lead 2-0 in the second inning and Los Angeles answered with four runs in the same inning leading 4-2. Suzuki had a solo home run in the second inning to start off the scoring for the Angels.

The A’s would score a run in the third inning to pull to within one 4-3. The A’s had the bases loaded in the fifth inning and came up empty. This was a great opportunity squandered by Oakland and is something that they have struggled with this season. Leaving runners stranded has been a sore spot for the team.

In the sixth inning the A’s would take the lead 5-4 and win it in this closely contested ballgame.

After going six innings Cole Irvin was relieved by Jake Diekman in the seventh inning. Oakland needed the bullpen to step up and protect the slim lead. It was a three up, three down for Diekman.

With two innings left in the game the A’s needed an insurance run or two to take this first game of the series.

The Angels threatened in the eighth inning but a brilliant throw from Starling Marte to Matt Chapman tagged Kean Kong out at third for the third out of the inning.

Sergio Romo would take the mound to try and close out this game for Oakland. The A’s would hang on for their 80th win of the season. It was a very nice outing for the Oakland bullpen. There were no long balls for the A’s in this one but some great defensive play which salvaged this game for the A’s Game Two is scheduled for 6:07.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Tony Kemp A’s Clemente Award winner; Royals tried to play spoiler during series in KC

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s second baseman Tony Kemp was recognized as the Roberto Clemente Award winner for 2021 for not only his hard work on the field but his community service off the field (file photo White Cleat Beat)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Roberto Clemente day has been designated annually every September 30th as all MLB players will wear #21 to honor the former Pittsburgh Pirate. Teams will be naming a player each season who best represents the attributes of Clemente on and off the field. The A’s have named Tony Kemp as that player whose kept up with fans on instagram discussing everything from race, and local issues in the greater Oakland community and what it’s like to compete with the A’s this season.

#2 Kemp said in writing and speaking with fans about issues is a work in progress he gets to hear some of the fans personnel issues whether it pertains to race issues, crime in neighborhoods, chaperone services for the elderly in Oakland Chinatown and concerns about working people who are just trying to make ends meet everyday. Kemp is certainly well respected amongst his teammates and truly appreciate him taking a key role in reaching out.

#3 The Kansas City Royals who are well out of the post season contention battled the A’s during the three game series this week and the Royals who are playing spoiler were not mailing it in. Even though the A’s took two of the three games from the Royals the A’s won by two runs in each of their wins and the Royals won the second game by 10-7. It just shows you teams are getting up for the A’s who are trying to survive with their post season hopes in their own right.

#4 A’s starter Chris Bassitt is making progress since his cheek surgery after getting hit in the face back on Aug 17th at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago. Bassitt has been doing bullpen sessions in Kansas City and will face live hitter in Anaheim this weekend in a simulated game. A’s manager Bob Melvin says “looked like himself.”

#5 A’s open up a three game series in Anaheim tonight the A’s will be going with Cole Irvin (9-13 ERA 4.04) and the Angels have not announced a starter yet. First pitch is slated for 6:38 PM (PDT) at the Big A. The Angels are 14 games out and have won four of their last ten games.

Join Jeremiah Fridays for the Oakland A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Take Game Three In Kansas City 7-2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Oakland A’s Mark Canha slide in safely in the third inning after scoring on a Chad Pinder single against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City (AP News photo)

A’s Take Game Three In Kansas City 7-2

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday afternoon the Oakland A’s took on the Kansas City Royals in game three of their series.

Paul Blackburn was on the mound for Oakland and the Royals started Daniel Lynch. It was a bumpy start for Blackburn but he settled down nicely. After giving up a two run home run by Perez in the first inning, he sailed through the mid-sixth inning.

He was relieved by Deolis Guerra who pitched through the seventh inning. Chafin got through the eighth inning and Sergio Romo took it home for Oakland with a three up three down in the the ninth inning.

After leading 2-0 in the first inning there would be nothing more for the Royals. The A’s tied up the game in the third inning. They went on in that same inning to tack on two more runs to lead 4-2.

There was not a lot of offense until the ninth inning. The A’s added some insurance in the ninth inning when Royals pitcher Brentz threw three wild pitches. Elvis Andrus scored on one of those pitches and Tony Kemp scored when Harrison doubled. The A’s added two more runs for the final score of 7-2.

This was a great win for the team and more importantly huge for the bullpen who has struggled for awhile now.

In the series the offense was certainly firing on all cylinders with 26 runs and 35 hits.

Oakland will now head back to California playing a three game series against the Angels. The latest news out of Los Angeles is that Shohei Otani will not pitch against the A’s tomorrow. There is a very good chance that he will not pitch again this season with right arm soreness. He will probably still serve as a designated hitter.

First pitch in Los Angeles is scheduled for 6:38. Cole Irvin will be on the mound for Oakland. If Ohtani does not pitch which seems unlikely the Angels starter is still TBD at the time of this story.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Gausman gets start against Padres to conclude four game series today

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants starter Kevin Gausman who goes today against the San Diego Padres has won five in row and goes for his sixth at Oracle Park in San Francisco (file photo from the Advocate)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Lots of excitement this past week the Giants who ended a nine game win streak winning nine of their last ten games clinching on Monday night against the San Diego Padres and most important with our very own Morris Phillips in attendance.

#2 During the nine game win streak they really got some suburb pitching we’ll start with Kevin Gausman 14-5 ERA 2.65 Gausman has won in his last five starts.

#3 Gausman who signed with the Giants last season for $18.5 million has really paid off with the work he’s done. He’s good but did the Giants expect him to be this good.

#4 Catcher Buster Posey whose been around for all three World Series Championships in 2010. 12, and 14 wanted to share Monday’s clinch for post season and let his teammates be the face of the celebration and Posey loved every second of it.

#5 The San Diego Padres have not announced a starting pitcher as of deadline last night but you’ll never guess whose starting today’s game for the Giants, Kevin Gausman gets the call. Knowing and seeing the Padres line up for the last few nights how do you see Gausman matching up against their line up this afternoon?

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Hang On To Win A Cliffhanger 12-10

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s hitter Mark Canha connects for an RBI single in the third inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City against the Kansas City Royals on Wed Sep 15, 2021 (AP News photo)

A’s Hang On To Win In A Cliffhanger 12-10

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday night the Oakland A’s took on the Kansas City Royals in game two of their series. Sean Manea was on the mound for Oakland and for Kansas City Carlos Hernandez got the nod. The ERA for Hernandez is currently 3.29 while Manea has a 3.79 ERA.

Last night’s game was a tough one for the A’s as they squandered another healthy lead. After five innings they led 7-4 but were unable to score again for the remainder of the game. The Royals scored four times in the sixth inning taking the lead and winning the game by a score of 10-7.

The team is desperate for a win as chances for a Wild Card are dwindling with each loss. Although the Rangers got on the board first taking an early 1-0 lead in this game, the A’s had a productive second, third and fourth inning which included a home run from Matt Olson, his 35th of the season. They scored five times taking a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning.

It felt a bit like deja vu in this fourth inning. The Royals would score four times with Perez, Benintendi, and Mondesi all scoring. They had drastically cut the A’s lead to 5-4. Oakland badly needed some offense in the second half of this game. We all saw what happened in yesterday’s game. We knew going in that the Royals could be problematic

The A’s offense answered in the fifth inning scoring three runs, now leading 8-4. Kemp and Harrison both had singles. The Royals Perez had a solo home run in the fifth but that was it for Kansas City.

The seventh inning was huge for Oakland. By the end of the top of the inning the A’s were leading 12-5. They unleashed an offensive run and now the team had 17 hits in the game. The offense was on fire and the bullpen needed to protect the lead.

Sean Manea pitched five innings before Lou Trivino came in to relieve in the sixth inning. Trivino pitched the sixth and seventh innings giving up a single run.

Jake Diekman would take over on the mound in the eighth inning as the A’s closed in on their first win in this series. Just when it looked all so promising , Diekman loaded the bases and a familiar scenario came into play. Kansas City doubled and the Royals had scored three times in the inning. Oakland now clung onto a 12-9 lead as Andrew Chafin came in to try and close out the inning. Prior to the ninth inning Oakland had had 24 base runners in this game.

After Chafin got the team out of the eighth inning, Oakland was three outs away from a win. It would be up to Chafin to close this one out. Another nightmare for the green and gold as Chafin loaded the bases with no outs. He loaded the bases for a second time in the inning with two out.

Miraculously the A’s hung on to get the final out and the win 12-10. This was a wild game that went down to the wire.

The A’s will try to take the series tomorrow in game three. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10.


That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Hispanic Heritage Month Roberto Clemente was a Patriot

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

In 1958 Roberto Clemente tried on a different kind of uniform the uniform of the United State Marine Corp, Clemente got an early release in 1959 and played on the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960 (file photo mlbforlife.com)

Hispanic Heritage Month: Roberto Clemente was a Patriot

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

This month is designated as Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. September 30, will mark the 49th anniversary of Roberto Clemente last at bat in 1972, and with his final at bat with the defending World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates he doubled to left-center field at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, off Mets lefty Jon Matlack, marking this double his 3,000 hit of his stellar career.

Three months later (almost to the day) he chartered a DC-7 plane (from San Juan, Puerto Rico) an airplane filled with help to the people suffering in Managua, Nicaragua of a devastating earthquake. Traveling to another country, to help people he didn’t know and for that he gave his life. The ultimate humanitarian.

Aside from a true gentleman and member of the MLB Hall of Fame, many might ignore that Roberto Clemente was also a Patriot. During the 1958 and 1959 off-season Clemente enlisted in the United States Marines Corps and served during the off-seasons until 1964.

He was also exalted into the US Marines Corps Sports Hall of Fame, posthumously (this Hall of Fame was established in 2001). Born In Carolina, Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente was a man of great discipline and dedication to whatever endeavor he chose to take part.

One of the great baseball awards, one that all players unanimously agree is a great honor, has nothing to do with baseball statistics or on-the-field performance, but of community and human nature. The Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award exemplifies sportsmanship, community involvement and the player individual contribution to his team, voted by baseball fans and members of the media.

Each of the 30 teams nominates a player, here in the Bay Area, the Oakland Athletics nominated Tony Kemp and the San Francisco Giants Brandon Crawford. Later a panel of baseball dignitaries selects one winner. The winner is announced at the World Series in front of a national television audience.

During an interview in 2020 that I conducted with Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Manny Sanguillen, who knew Clemente and played with him, about the story that he was going to Managua, Nicaragua, with Roberto Clemente on that DC-7 chartered plane he said that was not true.

But he did talk to Roberto before he left from San Juan, Puerto Rico, but Sanguillen tells me he was not planning to go, Clemente had a lot of friends with him, he was always surrounded by people. He learned about the plane crash from Luis Mayoral, a veteran sports journalist and broadcaster born in Puerto Rico.

Manny Sanguillen (quote) “Clemente told me once, if we make it to a World Series, I will take care of everything”. He did, in 1971 Clemente hit .411 won the World Series MVP like Bill Blass, who pitched a complete game seven to clinch it for the Pirates said after the game about Roberto: “Clemente did it all”.

Roberto Clemente had to work very hard to become the player he was; at the time when he played there was still much racism in the game. Clemente was a Latino of dark skin and that was enough for many (not all) to never give the man the credit he deserved.

As I was covering a game at Candlestick Park in 1972, for El Mundo Newspaper of Oakland and during his last season, I remember inside the press box after Clemente struck out, a loud voice was heard saying “send him back in a banana boat”. It happened, I heard it, but that was part of those years in baseball, not to mention many more much difficult years in the late 1950’s when he first broke into the game.

Today the Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award is one of the most coveted awards given to a player in Major League Baseball. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame always informs during exhibits and inductions all over the country at baseball parks, libraries or community events and the name of Roberto Clemente still at the top of one of the most remember players by baseball fans alike all over the world.

Note: The US Marines Corps Sports Hall of Fame is located in Quantico, Virginia. There are various baseball players in their Hall of Fame, including Ted Williams, Gil Hodges, Jerry Coleman as well as Roberto Clemente. Also many in a variety of other sports, like Ken Norton (Boxing) and Lee Trevino (Golf).

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com