Roberto Clemente: More Than a Baseball Star
A baseball hit deep into right field might seem certain to become an extra-base hit. But when Roberto Clemente played that position, runners had reason to be careful. He could chase down a ball and throw it with remarkable speed and accuracy. His skill helped make him one of baseball’s greatest players. His concern for other people helped make his legacy even larger.
Clemente was born on August 18, 1934, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. He grew up playing baseball and eventually joined a professional team in Puerto Rico. In 1955, he began playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the major leagues. He would spend his entire major league career with that team.
Clemente became known for both hitting and fielding. As a right fielder, he needed to cover a large area of the outfield and return the ball quickly. His powerful throwing arm could keep a runner from advancing or even get the runner out. At the plate, he collected hits year after year. He won four National League batting titles, which meant he had the league’s highest batting average in each of those seasons.
- legacy:
- The influence someone leaves behind and is remembered for.
- professional:
- Doing an activity as a paid job.
- advancing:
- Moving forward.
- milestone:
- An important achievement or stage of progress.
- relief:
- Help given to people facing a serious hardship.
- retirement:
- The act of leaving a career or stopping work.
- contributions:
- Things a person does or gives to help a group or cause.
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Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
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Vocabulary
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Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of the passage? Give one detail that supports it.
- 2How did Clemente’s throwing ability help his team?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Roberto Clemente: More Than a Baseball Star” is a explanatory article reading passage about Roberto Clemente's life and legacy, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (466 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.