Clemente’s Legacy: ‘We all became #21’

By Jossie Alvarado

Puerto Ricans are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which cut a devastating path across the island in September 2017. Reports have shown how the infrastructure crumbled from the high winds, extreme rainfall and subsequent flooding.

The power grid was lost. Electricity was not restored for well over half a year in some communities. Tens of thousands lost their homes. Businesses were destroyed. But that is the material loss.

The estimated death toll now stands at 2,975, according to Puerto Rican officials. That number, so much higher than the initial 16 dead and then 64 deaths officially reported, begins to reveal the profound personal impact that Puerto Ricans have been dealing with since Maria.

The deaths occurred not just during the hurricane but also during the flawed relief efforts, the lack of power, and the inability to provide medicine or medical care to the sick and elderly. Those were our abuelos, uncles, friends, neighbors and children who died. That has had a psychological toll for all of us to deal with on a daily basis.

Maria was the most devastating hurricane of our lifetime. My hometown of Salinas was deeply affected, as were others on the coast and in the mountains.

There was a lot of damage.

A lot of loss.

Even with all of that, we are blessed as an island. Maria highlighted our long established spirit for helping others. In the days and months afterwards, we once again began to see the best in our people. We started doing what we had somehow forgotten. We checked in one our neighbors, moving beyond the usual morning greetings as we passed each other on the street. We genuinely checked to see how we were doing, asked neighbors and relatives if they were in need of anything. Sometimes we merely just stopped to have a conversation.

Change has been slow, although we are almost a year removed from the hurricane. Some traffic lights still don’t work. Some families have not received all the assistance they need.

The recovery process is more devastating when information comes to light in the way aid was handled. One year later we learn about supplies that were never delivered, food and medicine that never got to those in need. That bothers me.

It is even worse when nobody wants to take responsibility. We are making ourselves stronger on the one hand. Yet we become weaker when we continue receiving blows worse than Maria and accept them as the way things are.

Many of us moved into action upon seeing the devastation caused by Maria and the slowness of the federal response.

We all became No. 21

Some came from the mainland United States to help. They cleared roads, transported relief supplies and opened lines of communication.

Los Nuestros, the major leaguers who inspired us on the field, began helping us in our time of need. They raised relief funds and handled logistics for transporting relief supplies. They continue to help our people.

It was hard to know it then, because we didn’t have power or cell service. But eventually we learned how Carlos Beltrán, Carlos Correa, Edwin Díaz, Kiké Hernández, Eddie Rosario, Yadier Molina and so many other major leaguers worked their channels to bring aid and support.

Retired players did their part too, whether they lived on or off the island. Jorge Posada, his family and Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar were in Salinas and surrounding communities. Juan “Igor” González did tremendous things in Yabucoa and other cities. Edgar Martínez was in Dorado. Hall of Famer Pudge Rodríguez helped various communities.

We saw a lot of love for our country and our people.  Some helped, and everyone learned about their efforts. Others did it quietly, not wanting any publicity. A year later, they continue to help.

In so doing, they show that the legacy of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, the Great One, remains alive every day.

We feel very grateful for Clemente’s deeds. More importantly, we’re grateful for the example he set. He taught us that in the face of adversity you should empathize with your neighbor and help them.

Naturally, we wear No. 21 on our back, whether symbolically or when we don our Puerto Rican and Pittsburgh Pirates jerseys. Even when we don’t wear the actual jersey, we proudly wear the spirit of Clemente.

It’s the spirit of the responsible public servant, the person concerned for the well-being and safety of others, the ones who helped their neighbors. We all needed some help after Maria.

That is part of the Puerto Rican humanitarian spirit. We converted ourselves into the caring people that embrace and carry the Great One’s legacy daily while helping our fellow man.

Featured Image: Jean Fruth / La Vida Baseball

Author’s Bio:

Jossie Alvarado lived through the hurricane and its aftermath last year. A resident of Salinas, Puerto Rico, he is a baseball historian who authored “Roberto Alomar: A Special Player.” He was among a group of Puerto Ricans took it upon themselves in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria to visit retired Puerto Rican players across the Island to see whether they were in need of food supplies, medicine, and how they were faring health-wise.