The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation calling for commemorative coins celebrating the life of Puerto Rican baseball great Roberto Clemente. The Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act (HR 6751) directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint the coins.
The bill
The bill begins with a biography of Clemente, describing the right fielder as “a legend in life and death, a baseball star, a humanitarian activist, and a symbol of Latin American pride.” It then goes on to specify the production of a maximum of 50,000 $5 coins in 90% gold; 400,000 $1 coins in 90% silver; and 750,000 half-dollar coins meeting the legal specifications of half-dollars.
The design would take into consideration the advice of the Roberto Clemente Foundation, Roberto Clemente’s living family members, and the Commission of the Fine Arts. It would be chosen by the Secretary of the Treasury and approved by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, a nonpartisan committee established in 2003 to assist with the production of commemorative coins.
The bill states that both Clemente’s baseball prowess and his humanitarian accomplishments should be represented in the design of the coin, and that Clemente’s image must be on at least one of the coins. The coins would be legal tender, but there is a surcharge that will raise money for Clemente’s foundation.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) on December 13, 2023 and passed by the House of Representatives on December 4, 2024. It is expected to die in the Senate, but is likely to be reintroduced and reconsidered next Congress.
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was born in 1934 in Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. A talented athlete from a young 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 following year.
Clemente’s career was marked by both athletic excellence and social activism. He was a vocal advocate for the rights of Black and Latinx players, protesting discrimination and supporting causes like the Civil Rights Movement. He also dedicated himself to humanitarian efforts, organizing aid for those in need, particularly in Latin America. His tragic death in a plane crash in 1972, while delivering aid to Nicaragua, solidified his legacy as a humanitarian.
On the field, Clemente was a star. He was a 12-time Gold Glove winner, a two-time World Series champion, and a National League MVP. He also joined the exclusive 3,000-hit club and was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Major League Baseball honors Clemente’s legacy with the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to a player who exemplifies sportsmanship, community involvement, and contributions to their team. Additionally, September 15th is now designated as Roberto Clemente Day, celebrating his impact on baseball and society.
Clemente was the first Puerto Rican, and first person of Latino heritage, to win a World Series as a starter, to be named league MVP and World Series MVP, and the first to be elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. He will also be the first Puerto Rican to be honored with a commemorative coin.
