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On September 30, 1972, Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente collects the 3,000th hit of his major league career. In the fourth inning at Three Rivers Stadium, Clemente smacks a double against New York Mets left-hander Jon Matlack. The hit will be the last one in regular season play for the future Hall of Famer, as he will die in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve attempting to bring relief aid to earthquake-stricken Managua, Nicaragua.
How does Roberto rate Willie? “The greatest”… with one colorful caveat. One very happy coincidence vis-à-vis Clemente’s 3,000th hit [cited above] is the fact that on hand both to witness his achievement and to welcome him into this exclusive club is none other than Clemente’s old friend, mentor, role model and rival Willie Mays, currently a New York Met, if, sadly, a largely inactive one. Following a post-game photo session with this dynamic duo, the Pirate superstar reiterates his long held and frequently stated conviction regarding Mays, complete with a more specific version of his customary qualification: “Willie Mays is the greatest player I’ve ever seen,” insists Clemente, speaking with Charley Feeney of the Post Gazette. “I never saw Joe DiMaggio play, but if Joe DiMaggio was better than Willie Mays, he belongs in heaven.”
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