Roberto Clemente was an 18-year-old standout with the Santurce Crabbers in his native Puerto Rico when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1953. Despite his youth, the Dodgers paid out a considerable bonus to obtain Clemente, and under MLB rules of the time, the Dodgers were supposed to bring him straight to the majors or risk losing him to another team in the winter draft. That is exactly what happened – Clemente was the last place Pittsburgh Pirates first round draft pick. Clemente was thrown right into the starting lineup and though he struggled a bit - .255 at the plate – he proved he had the makings of a star player. In 1956, Clemente’s second season, he came around at the plate, but also forged a reputation as premier outfielder as well. His prowess in the field would sometimes even outshine his batting skills throughout his career, and today many who had the opportunity to see him play in person usually recall first a remarkable play in the outfield before they relate a batting feat.

The Great One wore this Rawlings 11.5-inch HSP Solid V Anchor model fielder’s glove during only his second season in the majors. This was before he was known enough to have his own signature model glove – this one is a Herb Score professional model. As befits the glove of one of the greatest outfielders to ever play the game, Clemente’s 1956 gamer shows outstanding use. There are scuffs and abrasions on the fingertips from grounders and a well-worn pocket from pop flies. The leather is scuffed and cracked at all the hinged areas and the rawhide lacing securing the web has been broken at the base of the thumb/fore finger. The inside and adjustable wrist strap shows the expected perspiration staining and the trim on the strap has cracked in places. The red Rawlings label is somewhat frayed and faded but remains intact and securely sewn on the back of the wrist strap. A blue and white machine stamped label reading “BOB CLEMENTE PITTSBURGH PIRATES” has been affixed to the area above the Rawlings label. There are some stains present on the brown leather, most noticeably on the inside pocket where the fingers meet the palm. Completing this early Clemente gamer is the handwritten number “21” visible on the wrist strap in faded black marker. Certainly, one of the earliest Roberto Clemente game used gloves in existence, and a true visual tribute to one of the most talented outfielders in the history of the game. The glove comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1G00525) for the game use and per authenticator Denny Eskin, this is the earliest known and perhaps finest example of a Roberto Clemente game glove in existence.

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