Carlos Delgado embraced the legacy of 21

Twenty one is a sacred number for many throughout baseball, especially Latino fans and players.  For so many, 21 stands for so much more than a number. It represents the legacy of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. This is why it’s unsurprising that, as James Wagner wrote for the New York Times, for the current crop of Puerto Rican players that includes All-Stars Javier Báez, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Eddie Rosario, among others, No. 21 is virtually retired.

A lot of responsibilities come when a Puerto Rican or any Latino player decides to wear 21. Expectations are raised, not only of the player’s on-field performance but also of what the player does in their community.

A seasoned veteran when he joined the New York Mets in 2006, Carlos Delgado knew exactly what he was doing when he decided to wear No. 21. Delgado embraced the legacy, deciding to put 21 on his back as a way to honor the legacy of fighting for others and speaking for justice. It was the ultimate tribute to Clemente, Delgado insists.

“The reason why I wore 21 is because of Clemente,” Delgado said at his Extra Bases Foundation office in Dorado, Puerto Rico. “As a Puerto Rican, you understand how big Clemente was. Obviously, we can go into his stats, the Gold Gloves, the All-Star games, and the batting champions … but the legacy, that fight for justice, social justice, I think is more important.”

Honoring the Past

The native of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico spoke with more than his bat with which he struck 473 home runs during his major league career. More than a decade before football player Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel for the U.S. national anthem in protest of police brutality, Delgado took his own stance by not coming out of the dugout for the playing of “God Bless America” in protest of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the U.S. military’s continued test bombings in the Puerto Rican island of Vieques.

Delgado’s stance did not generate the social tumult that surrounded Kaepernick’s protest. Nonetheless, Delgado’s protest was entirely in character with his commitment to speaking out on issues of justice.

The decision to wear No. 21 and to speak out on issues of justice was inspired by Delgado’s understanding of the history of the Puerto Rican players who came before him.

“As a player, a black player from Puerto Rico, a Latino, getting into the big leagues and hearing the stories of Clemente and (Orlando) Cepeda and Victor Pellot, how hard they had it, when you go in it’s much easier,” he said. “I’m not saying we did not see discrimination, because I did. I personally did. But it wasn’t like, colored players here, whites here. You sit on the back of the bus, or you can’t eat here. It wasn’t as blatant like that. But I feel like Clemente was one of the icons that opened that door, so it’s a tribute to him to wear No. 21.”

A Good Example

Delgado had heard stories about Clemente since he was a young boy. Everyone seemingly had a Clemente story to share, whether it was about his greatness as a player, the example Clemente set in helping others, or of the genuine humility and dignified pride Clemente possessed.

“Sense of compassion, I would think it came from my dad. He’s a social worker. He was a social worker by heart. I’m not taking anything away from my mom. My mom is a great person, and she’s very compassionate, in a completely different way from my dad. So maybe I’m a hybrid between the two,” Delgado said.

A Direct Link to Clemente

In 2006 Delgado received the ultimate recognition for the work he did beyond the playing field and gained a direct link to Clemente. That October, Delgado was named recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award during the World Series between the Cardinals and the Tigers.

In the ceremony prior to Game 3 in 2006, Vera Clemente said Delgado’s “performance on the field and dedication and commitment to the community truly embody the spirit of this Award.”

“The Roberto Clemente Award is probably one of the biggest accomplishments that I ever received, just because having your name attached to the name of the person that you follow, that you emulate, is priceless, in a very humble way,” Delgado said.

Entering into the special fraternity of Clemente Award winners was the ultimate recognition of good works for Delgado.

“I don’t do things to get awards. I do things because I believe they’re good. I try to do it for the right reasons. … It was rewarding because, you know what?  … You are doing the right thing, more than anything else … That’s always going to be special,” Delgado declared.

Wearing 21 was the ultimate tribute on the field, according to Delgado. Just as important, Delgado firmly believes that the work done beyond the ballpark, such as his involvement in humanitarian work and supporting youth initiatives through his Extra Bases Foundation is another way he and others continue to pay tribute to Clemente’s legacy.

Featured Image: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Sport