Danielle Solzman
Clemente is the definitive documentary on the life, career, and enduring legacy of the late Pittsburgh Pirates legend Roberto Clemente. The film’s release came days before Major League Baseball celebrated Roberto Clemente Day on September 15, first celebrated in 2002.
The ballplayer’s career came to a tragic end on December 31, 1972, when his plane crashed in route to delivering aid in Nicaragua following a devastating earthquake. It resulted in the BBWAA and the National Baseball Hall of Fame waiving their five-year rule and allowed his posthumous induction in the summer following his death. There’s no telling what his final numbers could have been but he probably had a few good years left in him. His 4.8 WAR during the 1972 season was his lowest recorded since 4.0 in 1962, but he was still good enough to be selected for an All-Star Game, win a Gold Glove, and finish 13th in NL MVP voting.
Clemente’s career ended tragically on December 31, 1972, when his plane crashed en route to deliver earthquake relief in Nicaragua. In the wake of his death, the BBWAA and the Hall of Fame waived the five-year waiting period, leading to his posthumous induction that summer. There is no telling what his final career totals could have been, but he probably had a few strong seasons left in him. Even in 1972—his last year—he posted a 4.8 WAR, earned an All-Star nod, won a Gold Glove, and placed 13th in NL MVP voting.
Told through footage, never-before-heard recordings, and interviews, the film captures a man who lived by his own code. Seen as too Black for white America and too Latino for Black America, Clemente confronted racism head-on, refusing to be silenced. His determination carried him from poverty to superstardom, but he never lost sight of those society overlooked. More than a sports biography, the film portrays a figure who gave everything—to baseball and to others. It stands as a moving reminder that passion, courage, and empathy can leave a lasting mark on the world.
Filmmaker David Altrogge interviews Clemente’s family, teammates, friends, Puerto Rican ballplayers past and present, biographers, and of course, Bob Costas. Costas is to baseball documentaries what Leonard Maltin is to film history—an essential voice. Biographers David Maraniss and Bruce Markusen bring depth. Maraniss, who penned Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero, contributes a wealth of knowledge about the plane crash, calling it “the most devastating research” of his career.
Family and teammates carry the film’s emotional weight. Carol Brezovec Bass recalls Clemente signing autographs until every fan had one, even missing the team bus in the process. Offering him a ride to the airport led to a long-lasting friendship between their families, a story that underscores his generosity.
After being left unprotected in the Brooklyn Dodgers’ system at the end of 1954, Clemente was taken first overall in the Rule 5 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the Dodgers’ outfield already stacked, his future there was limited, but they had outbid the Milwaukee Braves and New York Giants with a larger contract to sign him in the first place. Would he have become a legend with the Dodgers in the same way he did in Pittsburgh? It’s impossible to know. It wasn’t until 1960 that Clemente truly began playing his way into legendary status. But given the what-if scenarios, can you imagine Clemente playing alongside Hank Aaron or Willie Mays?!?
When Clemente began his career, Latinos made up less than 5% of MLB players; today the figure is closer to 30%. He was the first Latino to win NL MVP, World Series MVP, and be inducted into the Hall of Fame. MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day each September 15, but only the Pirates and their opponents wear #21, unlike Jackie Robinson Day when every player and coach dons #42. All of MLB have worn patches on their jerseys in recent years but there’s a case to made about retiring #21 across MLB just like Robinson’s #42.
He finished his career as a 15-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove winner in right field, the 1966 National League MVP, the 1971 World Series MVP, and a four-time batting champion. His performance in the 1960 World Series was strong enough to merit MVP honors, but the award went to teammate Dick Groat. That slight only fueled Clemente’s production for the rest of the decade. And, of course, he capped his legendary career with exactly 3,000 hits, becoming the 11th member of the exclusive club on September 30, 1972.
An interesting tidbit about that 3,000th hit is how little coverage it received at the time. Sports Illustrated’s write-up was nowhere near the attention a player gets today when joining the 3,000-hit, 500-home run, 3,000-strikeout, or 300-win club. Maybe that speaks to how Latino players were undervalued more than 50 years ago. The film doesn’t ignore this either, highlighting how Clemente was often mocked by the press for his Puerto Rican accent and how they chose to quote him as a result.
At 101 minutes, the documentary has space to cover every aspect of his life and legacy, far beyond the 53-minute American Experience episode from 2008. Altrogge leaves no stone unturned. And for those wanting to go even deeper, Maraniss’s biography remains the definitive text.
Clemente succeeds because it’s more than just a baseball documentary—it’s a portrait of a man whose passion, empathy, and courage transcended the game. Altrogge captures both the triumphs and the struggles, reminding us why Clemente’s story continues to resonate over fifty years after his death. For longtime fans, it’s a moving tribute; for new generations, it’s an essential introduction to one of baseball’s greatest and most important figures.
DIRECTOR: David Altrogge
FEATURING: Roberto Clemente, Vera Clemente, Roberto Clemente Jr., Luis Roberto Clemente, Enrique Clemente, Matino Clemente, Michael Keaton, Bob Costas, Rita Moreno, Francisco Lindor, Yadier Molina, Tom Morello, David Maraniss, Bruce Markusen, Mako Oliveras, Enrique Zorilla, José Santiago, Chi-Chi Rodríguez, Duane Rieder, Al Oliver, Gene Clines, Karen Kozak, Bob Trimble, Kathy Day, Harry Hayden, Curtis Granderson, Danny Torres, Carol Brezovec Bass, Jerry Morales, Luis Mayoral, Manny Sanguillén, Richie Hebner, Bob Robertson, Dave Cash, Al Oliver, Steve Blass, Bengie Molina, José Molina, Richard Linklater
Vinegar Hill and mTuckman Media released Clemente in theaters on September 12, 2025. Grade: 4/5
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