PITTSBURGH – Roberto Clemente's iconic No. 21 has been a fixture in Pittsburgh for more than 60 years. Its presence has only grown since the Hall of Fame outfielder's death at age 38 on New Year's Eve 1972 in a plane crash off the coast of his native Puerto Rico.His jersey remains one of the franchise's most popular.
It adorns the right-field wall named after him at PNC Park. It's ubiquitous in the stands during Pirates home games and on post-game strolls along the Allegheny River.
First-year manager Derek Shelton has even caught his neighbors rocking it while cutting the grass.On Wednesday night, the number found itself in a place where it hasn't been for nearly a half century: on the back of a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.