365 Days of Roberto Clemente

[hcv123]

I purchased this scorecard a long time ago as a super early Clemente scorecard from Puerto Rico. It is dated February 3,1952.


After purchasing it, I was confused to learn that Clemente signed his first contract with Santurce in October of 1952.

It took me years before finding what I believe to be an answer. Before I share it, I want to ask readers here to offer their thoughts or facts to make sense of this.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by hcv123

I purchased this scorecard a long time ago as a super early Clemente scorecard from Puerto Rico. It is dated February 3,1952.


After purchasing it, I was confused to learn that Clemente signed his first contract with Santurce in October of 1952.

It took me years before finding what I believe to be an answer. Before I share it, I want to ask readers here to offer their thoughts or facts to make sense of this.

So like was suggested I considered - perhaps it was a different Clemente? But, what are the chances? Researched it and couldn't find evidence of another Clemente that played in the Puerto Rican league during those years. Maybe the date was wrong? Maybe, I just didn't know and it it remained a mystery for many years.......until.... Lelands auctioned of a very interesting piece of memorabilia - A questionnaire filled out by Clemente in 1954 - clearly indicating that he played with Santurce as early as 1951!!!! Obviously with no contract and an as yet unassigned uniform number!! Unfortunately I was outbid on the original -but snagged a good jpg to keep with the scorecard - highly likely to be the earliest known Clemente scorecard (for sure the earliest I have ever seen) !

[JollyElm]

I don't know very much about Clemente the specific person at all (except for the basic generalities often repeated), but that questionnaire seems to have been written by someone quite comfortable with (fluent in) English. Is that piece, in fact, known to have been actually written by him? Does the handwriting match? Or is it possible someone else wrote it up for him to sign? Again, not much knowledge here (and he was obviously bilingual), but I was always under the impression that he had a bit of a tough time speaking English effectively early in his career. Have I been just flat out wrong thinking that??

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

I don't know very much about Clemente the specific person at all (except for the basic generalities often repeated), but that questionnaire seems to have been written by someone quite comfortable with (fluent in) English. Is that piece, in fact, known to have been actually written by him? Does the handwriting match? Or is it possible someone else wrote it up for him to sign? Again, not much knowledge here (and he was obviously bilingual), but I was always under the impression that he had a bit of a tough time speaking English effectively early in his career. Have I been just flat out wrong thinking that??

I just went to look the item up. It sold in the November 2009 Lelands sale. There is a second page. The description states it was filled out by someone else and signed by Clemente.

[docpatlv]

Day 88

This was posted earlier, but here is another.

1972 Pro Star card/photo/postcard(?)...

[71buc]

I need one of those 1972 Pro Star cards Here is an uncut sheet of Clemente Fan Club membership cards issued by the Daily Juice Company

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by 71buc

I need one of those 1972 Pro Star cards Here is an uncut sheet of Clemente Fan Club membership cards issued by the Daily Juice Company

This thread never disappoints. Full sheets are awesome.

[Empty77]

Originally Posted by hcv123

So like was suggested I considered - perhaps it was a different Clemente? But, what are the chances? Researched it and couldn't find evidence of another Clemente that played in the Puerto Rican league during those years. Maybe the date was wrong? Maybe, I just didn't know and it it remained a mystery for many years.......until.... Lelands auctioned of a very interesting piece of memorabilia - A questionnaire filled out by Clemente in 1954 - clearly indicating that he played with Santurce as early as 1951!!!! Obviously with no contract and an as yet unassigned uniform number!! Unfortunately I was outbid on the original -but snagged a good jpg to keep with the scorecard - highly likely to be the earliest known Clemente scorecard (for sure the earliest I have ever seen) !

Hi Howard,

(apologies to all for now digging up the older thread entries, but seeing as I'm going through them on by one for my project, new things are surfacing)

So, your '52 scorecard which you acquired 'long ago' seemed earliest to you like you mentioned, which made the description from this 2009 Leland's item seem lame, since they added to the lot title "Earliest Known": https://auction.lelands.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=48357

But then I came across this 2005 Leland's item which is a '50-51 scorecard and they report references Clemente (though the image file is too small for a proper look to me), which suggests 2 things, 1) that their lot description writers in 2009 weren't doing as much diligence as they could even researching their own records and 2) about his playing in '51, further bolsters the evidence in the questionnaire you captured: https://auction.lelands.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=22172

(ok, it suggests a third thing too, for your scorecard, but let's not dwell on that)

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Empty77

Hi Howard,

(apologies to all for now digging up the older thread entries, but seeing as I'm going through them on by one for my project, new things are surfacing)

So, your '52 scorecard which you acquired 'long ago' seemed earliest to you like you mentioned, which made the description from this 2009 Leland's item seem lame, since they added to the lot title "Earliest Known": https://auction.lelands.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=48357

But then I came across this 2005 Leland's item which is a '50-51 scorecard and they report references Clemente (though the image file is too small for a proper look to me), which suggests 2 things, 1) that their lot description writers in 2009 weren't doing as much diligence as they could even researching their own records and 2) about his playing in '51, further bolsters the evidence in the questionnaire you captured: https://auction.lelands.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=22172

(ok, it suggests a third thing too, for your scorecard, but let's not dwell on that)

Awesome research Mike! Don't really care if mine is the "earliest" - great to see a couple of other really early ones out there - no surprises regarding due diligence by AH's - I know a number of times I have consigned, they have relied on me for history/provenance.

Doc - Years ago Mastro had a sale with a whole bunch of the original art for the SN painted covers - I had the Seaver (subsequently sold it) and the Clemente - hanging on my wall!