Pirates’ entire team will wear No. 21 on Roberto Clemente Day

PITTSBURGH — Each member of the Pittsburgh Pirates will wear No. 21 next week to honor one of the biggest stars in franchise history: Roberto Clemente.

The Pirates announced Wednesday all players and coaches will wear his iconic jersey number on Sept. 9 against the Chicago White Sox to honor his memory on Roberto Clemente Day.

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Clemente died Dec. 31, 1972, with four others when a plane carrying supplies from Puerto Rico to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua crashed. Since Clemente’s death, no player has worn No. 21 on the field for the Pirates. They retired the Hall-of-Famer’s number in 1973.

According to a release from team officials, those No. 21 jerseys worn by the Pirates will be put up for auctioned on the Pirates’ website in the days following the game. All proceeds will benefit the Clemente Foundation and Pirates Charities.

“Since 1973 the only persons allowed to wear no. 21 in a Pirate uniform would had been any of the three sons. I became the closest to have that honor, but didn’t continue to play to reach the Major League level,” said Luis Clemente in the release. “History will be made this September 9 and we would like to express our deepest gratitude to Derek Shelton for his initiative and supporting the Clemente Family endeavors. We thank Bob Nutting and the Pirates organization for continuing the goodwill of the Clemente name in their community efforts.”

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