In my knowledge of baseball (which, I admit, doesn’t add up to some other friends back east), I would have to say one of the greatest losses baseball has ever endured was that of Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder and slugger Roberto Clemente, who was killed in a plane crash on this date in 1972, as he intended to deliver relief supplies to those struck by an earthquake in Nicaragua.
Now, his son will complete that mission of mercy:
“It’s been 18 months that I had a spiritual awakening in which I communicated with dad. It was the first time that I really cried for dad ... and it was then that I understood I had to make this trip to obtain spiritual peace,” he told The Associated Press.
Clemente Jr. was 6 when his father was killed. He said he had a premonition of his father’s crash and pleaded with him not to go.
“For me, definitely, it’s a trip full of emotions,” he said. “For many years I was filled with a feeling of guilt for not stopping what happened and this closes a chapter in my life.”
In situations like this, the circle must be completed for healing and peace to come to an individual and/or a family. I believe Roberto, Jr. is doing the right thing.