Goya Foods will honor the lifetime achievements of Roberto Clemente in celebration of his 40th anniversary into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and unveil a life size statue at Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 11 a.m.
The bronze statue, sculpted by Maritza Hernandez, weighs approximately 3,000 pounds and will stand at a total height of seven feet tall on a four foot granite pedestal and portray one of Clemente’s most memorable moments in his baseball career; acknowledging fans after his 3,000th hit. The statue, commissioned and donated by Goya Foods to Roberto Clemente State Park, will be installed at the front entrance of the 25-acre public park and represents the first statue of a Puerto Rican legend to be constructed in New York City.
Roberto Clemente was an iconic role model who made a significant difference in the Hispanic community, not only for his success and career as a Hall of Fame baseball player, but also for his humanitarian work. Off the field, Clemente dedicated much of histime and efforts to helping people in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. The community lost this great man in an aviation accident on December 31, 1972, while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.