Omar Minaya, relating much of his experience from sneaking into Shea Stadium as a child to becoming the MLB's 1st Latino GM and back to Shea, now Citi-Field. (Photo LSV)

Bronx Applebee’s at Gateway Mall---The Mets general manager, Omar Minaya was the guest speaker at the ninth annual 21 Days of Clemente on Monday, December 21. The weekend snowfall in the area did not prevent the Mets executive from coming to the South Bronx to show his respect to the late Hall of Fame outfielder. Although Clemente was already playing in the big leagues when Minaya was born, 1958, the Mets GM gladly shared his childhood memories of seeing Clemente in Shea Stadium.

Omar Minaya & Julio Pabón taking questions from the audience at the second 21 Days of Clemente forum. (Photo LSV)

Minaya was born in the Dominican Republic, but moved to the United States as a young boy. His earliest baseball memories were not those of his native land but rather of New York City. Minaya lived in Corona, and he attended public schools in the borough of Queens. His father took him to games at Shea Stadium, about 10 blocks from where the family resided. He recounted, “I grew up ten blocks from Shea. We walked there.” He remembered his father’s favorite teams were the Giants and Pirates. He said, “They had players from the Caribbean. Roberto Clemente was always in the back of my mind.” He was especially impressed by attending Roberto Clemente Day at Shea in the latter part of the 1971 season, ‘There are certain things you remember. I was so impressed that a young Latino player was being honored at a visiting stadium.” The gracious gesture struck him as a reminder of Latino culture where a guest to one’s home is always treated with the utmost respect and consideration.

As an adult with an executive position in Major League Baseball Minaya understand Clemente in a broader context as a humanitarian as well as a great athlete. He (Clemente) goes beyond baseball. He was about strength, unity, crossing borders and crossing lines.” He spoke with fervor in favor of the retirement of Clemente’s #21 in MLB, “We are all for retiring Roberto Clemente’s number. In answer to a question, he realistically explained the difficulty of accomplishing this deed that he supports, “Retiring a number is something major. It takes time. It takes thought. There’s only one number retired in all of sports [#42 of Jackie Robinson in MLB]. It’s not something easy, but it’s something that deserves to be brought up and considered.” Minaya made very valid points to the adults in the audience regarding personal responsibility to the younger generations, “You don’t have to be Roberto Clement to be a hero or a role model. We owe a responsibility to those who come after us. Let us be our own Roberto Clemente’s in our own communities. That’s the lesson Roberto Clemente would have wanted us to follow.”

Part of the audience that came to hear Mets GM Omar Minaya. (Photo LSV)

Minaya was not the only one present who spoke thoughtfully or interestingly regarding Clemente. Latino Sports Ventures, Inc. CEO Julio Pabón, the man who began this December celebration of Clemente in the Bronx, explained its origins. He told of the reasons Clemente took time during the holiday season in November and December to raise funds personally to aid the victims of a devastating earthquake in Nicaragua, and risked and lost his life on New Year’s Eve to bring the supplies to the people of Nicaragua. Pabón’s rationale for having this remembrance in December was, “We want people to be inconvenienced, so you’ll know what Clemente went through.” Pabon spoke articulately and from the heart. His words made each listener better understand a heroic man who died 37 years ago.

Prior to the question and answer session, the audience was warned that only questions pertaining to Clemente would be allowed. Minaya gently interrupted to say, “It’s winter, and they want to talk about baseball. “ Thus, questions about the 2010 Mets were asked and answered. He named the members of what he currently expects will be the starting rotation, “Santana, Pelfrey, Maine. Perez,  Niese and perhaps, a free agent.” When asked why the team is pursuing Jason Bay but not Matt Holiday, he responded, “We are pursuing Matt Holiday. It seems to be easier to make a deal for Jason Bay.” The GM expects next year’s team to do much better than last year’s, “Last year was a very difficult year. Injuries came together. These things happen. These things build character. Things will turn around.”

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