Bob Clemente

[flyingdutchman09]

I believe some of the Topps cards he signed his name, "Bob". But I agree that he never liked the name. Bob Prince was big on calling him "Bobby."

[drmondobueno]

And always referred to Roberto as 'Bob'. He called everybody by a nickname if that person liked it or not. Seems all of his relatives did the same. A single syllable nickname. Including me. Is it a cultural thing from a region or generation? I always thought it was generational. Maybe not, ey?

I can say grandpa said Clemente was the best all around ballplayer he ever saw, and he played against barnstorming teams in the early '30's, against all the Yankee greats and the black players of the day. Always thought he was a Pittsburgh homer but maybe not.

[hangman62]

Ive seen heard old clips with Pirate broadcaster ( Prince ? ) calling him Bobby

[the 'stache]

I've heard the same. It always seemed to me a term of affection, not meant as a slight to the Great One.

Roberto was absolutely adamant that he be called Roberto. I would never buy an autograph of his where his name was not signed as Roberto, one, because I'd question the authenticity, and two, because it just wouldn't look right to me.

He has one of my favorite signatures of all-time. Right up there, for me, personally, with that of Ken Griffey Jr.

Originally Posted by hangman62

Ive seen heard old clips with Pirate broadcaster ( Prince ? ) calling him Bobby

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

I've heard the same. It always seemed to me a term of affection, not meant as a slight to the Great One.

Roberto was absolutely adamant that he be called Roberto. I would never buy an autograph of his where his name was not signed as Roberto, one, because I'd question the authenticity, and two, because it just wouldn't look right to me.

He has one of my favorite signatures of all-time. Right up there, for me, personally, with that of Ken Griffey Jr.

Nothing better than an autograph you can READ!

for what it's worth, my own autograph is no longer legible. I blame both technology and age for that.

OFFICIAL PREDICTION:

A time is coming...and it's not too far away...where, due to technology, the hand-written signature may become a lost 'art'.

Might be a good time to start a collection?


- Raymond Robert 'Robbie' (how my friends off the 'net' address me) Culpepper
rrc

[Lueth2048]

Originally Posted by flyingdutchman09

I believe some of the Topps cards he signed his name, "Bob". But I agree that he never liked the name. Bob Prince was big on calling him "Bobby."

I've in several places that Bob Prince was one of the few people that Clemente was OK with using Bob or Bobby instead of Roberto because Prince used it as a term of affection rather than some sort of put-down.