by David Fleitz

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Last September, the Baseball Hall of Fame changed Roberto Clemente's  plaque.  The new version of the plaque is shown above.

What was wrong with the old one?  I had no idea, until I read the press release from the Hall that explained the matter.

It seems that Clemente's name had been wrong on the plaque ever since 1973, when it was created and hung in Cooperstown.  Clemente's name was listed as "Roberto Walker Clemente" when it should have been "Roberto Clemente Walker".

In Latin American culture, a person's proper name lists the father's last name, followed by the mother's maiden name.  For example, the former president of Mexico is Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon; he's referred to as Mr. Zedillo in news reports.  Three-time batting champion Tony Oliva is Pedro Oliva Lopez; Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal is Juan Marichal Sanchez.

I always assumed that Roberto Clemente's middle name was Walker, since all my reference books and many of my baseball cards list his name that way.  In truth, Clemente's mother's maiden name was Walker, and his real name was Roberto Clemente Walker.  Since Clemente was the first Latin American player in the Hall of Fame, perhaps the people who created the plaque weren't aware of this cultural practice.

However, the Hall of Fame corrected the problem, and ordered a new plaque for Clemente.  They also held ceremonies in Puerto Rico, where Clemente is still the island's greatest hero, to celebrate the new plaque.

What did they do with the old plaque?  I don't know, but I hope it doesn't show up on eBay in the next few months.