On March 14, 1969 — Exactly nine days after his splashy spring debut on March 5th, indicative of a full recovery from last season’s right shoulder injury, Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente injures the other shoulder. “Clemente, who played last season with a bruised right shoulder,” writes Charley Feeney in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “injured his left shoulder when he attempted a diving catch of a foul fly in Friday’s game against the Red Sox in Bradenton.” After waiting 10 days for the shoulder to improve with no results, Clemente will return to Puerto Rico to consult his private trainer/chiropractor, Arturo Garcia.
Sources –
Baseball Reference March 14
SABR Games Project
National Pastime March 14
Retro Sheet
Replay The Game