In accepting the Tris Speaker Award from Houston sportswriters, Roberto Clemente gives a speech which, apart from being called by many of those in attendance “the best talk any baseball player ever made,” is the source of Clemente’s most famous – if oft misquoted – assertion: “If you have an opportunity to accomplish something that will make things better for someone coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.”

In accepting the Tris Speaker Award from Houston sportswriters, Roberto Clemente gives a speech which, apart from being called by many of those in attendance “the best talk any baseball player ever made,” is the source of Clemente’s most famous – if oft misquoted – assertion: “If you have an opportunity to accomplish something that will make things better for someone coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.”

Pirates and Cardinals make 4 player deal the trade is key to 1971 Championship

Pirates and Cardinals make 4 player deal the trade is key to 1971 Championship

On January 29, 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquire pitcher Nellie Briles and outfielder Vic Davalillo from the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Matty Alou and pitcher George Brunet. Briles and Davalillo will play important roles in the Bucs’ 1971 World Championship. Alou was the big piece in the deal. He hit .327 over five seasons…