The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at creating commemorative coins to honor the legacy of Puerto Rican baseball icon Roberto Clemente. The Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act (HR 6751) mandates the Secretary of the Treasury to produce the coins.
The legislation
The legislation starts with a biography of Clemente, portraying the right fielder as “a legend in both life and death, a baseball superstar, a humanitarian advocate, and a representative of Latin American pride.” It proceeds to detail the minting of up to 50,000 $5 coins made of 90% gold; 400,000 $1 coins made of 90% silver; and 750,000 half-dollar coins conforming to the legal definitions of half-dollars.
The design will incorporate recommendations from the Roberto Clemente Foundation, alive members of Roberto Clemente’s family, and the Commission of Fine Arts. The selection will be made by the Secretary of the Treasury and must receive approval from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, a nonpartisan group created in 2003 to aid in commemorative coin production.
The legislation emphasizes that both Clemente’s athletic talents and his humanitarian achievements should be depicted in the coin’s design, ensuring Clemente’s likeness appears on at least one coin. While the coins will function as legal tender, a surcharge will be applied to generate funds for Clemente’s foundation.
This bill was presented by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) on December 13, 2023, and was passed by the House of Representatives on December 4, 2024. It is anticipated to fail in the Senate but is likely to be reintroduced and reconsidered in the next Congressional session.
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was born in 1934 in Puerto Rico, being the youngest of seven siblings. A gifted athlete from an early age, he joined the Puerto Rican Baseball League at 17. In 1954, the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him, and he made his Major League debut the next year.
Clemente’s career was characterized by both athletic brilliance and social advocacy. He was a passionate supporter of the rights of Black and Latinx players, standing against discrimination and backing movements such as the Civil Rights Movement. His commitment to humanitarian work included organizing aid for impoverished communities, especially in Latin America. His untimely demise in a plane crash in 1972, while delivering aid to Nicaragua, cemented his status as a humanitarian.
On the diamond, Clemente shone brightly. He was a 12-time Gold Glove recipient, a two-time World Series champion, and a National League MVP. He also entered the prestigious 3,000-hit club and was inducted posthumously into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Major League Baseball honors Clemente’s legacy through the Roberto Clemente Award, awarded annually to a player who exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship, community engagement, and team contributions. Furthermore, September 15th has been designated as Roberto Clemente Day, commemorating his influence on baseball and society.
Clemente was the first Puerto Rican, and the first individual of Latino descent, to win a World Series as a starting player, to receive league MVP and World Series MVP honors, and the first to be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. He will also be the inaugural Puerto Rican to receive a commemorative coin.
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