Roberto Clemente
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Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente demonstrates his greatness with one of the defensive gems of the century

ByTom

1965 – Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente demonstrates his greatness with one of the defensive gems of the century. The Pirates misjudge a bunt from Bob Lillis that rolls casually into shallow left. Clemente dashes in from right field to grab it and throw out Walt Bondat third. His hustle is rewarded when the Bucs rally to overcome Houston, 10-9, in eleven innings.

When one hears of a runner being “cut down going from first to third”, what immediately springs to mind is probably not the following scenario, enacted in Houston’s Astrodome by Pirate right fielder Roberto Clemente and recounted by The Sporting News’ Les Biederman: “Clemente made an almost unheard-of assist in this game. With runners on first and second and Pirates charging for the plate, Bob Lillis pushed a bunt into the vacated shortstop position for one run. Walter Bond tried to go from first to third but Clemente, sizing up the situation quickly, came in from right field
” Second baseman Bill Mazeroski recalls: “Roberto raced in from right field, dove for the ball, and with his face in the dirt threw out the runner going to third base!” The dumbfounded Bond becomes the 8th frame’s first out while Rusty Staub scores from second, building Houston’s lead to two. Two more will score before the inning ends and yet another two in the top of the 9th. The Bucs then mount a furious 9th-inning comeback. After scoring six runs to tie the game, they win it with another run in the 11th, 7 – 6.

ByThis Day in Baseball

When one hears of a runner being “cut down going from first to third”, what immediately springs to mind is probably not the following scenario, enacted in Houston’s Astrodome by Pirate right fielder Roberto Clemente and recounted by The Sporting News’ Les Biederman: “Clemente made an almost unheard-of assist in this game. With runners on first and second and Pirates charging for the plate, Bob Lillis pushed a bunt into the vacated shortstop position for one run. Walter Bond tried to go from first to third but Clemente, sizing up the situation quickly, came in from right field
” Second baseman Bill Mazeroski recalls: “Roberto raced in from right field, dove for the ball, and with his face in the dirt threw out the runner going to third base!” The dumbfounded Bond becomes the 8th frame’s first out while Rusty Staub scores from second, building Houston’s lead to two. Two more will score before the inning ends and yet another two in the top of the 9th. The Bucs then mount a furious 9th-inning comeback. After scoring six runs to tie the game, they win it with another run in the 11th, 7 – 6.