On Roberto Clemente Day, Pirates honor the late Hall of Famer by wearing his retired No. 21

Derek Shelton rarely wears a game jersey in the dugout, but the Pittsburgh Pirates manager proudly wore his home white with the No. 21 on the back as MLB celebrated Roberto Clemente Day.

What made it even better for Shelton is he wore it for a win that involved a pair of plays he viewed as a fitting tribute, as the Pirates topped the Kansas City Royals, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at PNC Park.

Shelton led the push for the Pirates to be allowed to wear Clemente’s retired number on the day designated to honor the memory of the late Hall of Fame right fielder who died New Year’s Eve 1972 when his plane, loaded with humanitarian supplies for Nicaragua earthquake victims, crashed in the ocean off the coast of his native Puerto Rico.

“This is very important to me,” Shelton said. “When I became the manager here, wearing this was something that was a very important initiative to me. It was probably the most important thing that I thought about, just as an organization.”

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington credited Shelton on his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan, saying he “absolutely pushed hard and was a big part in making that happen” and added “that 21 is going to look so good when we run out onto the field.”

The Pirates also stenciled Clemente’s No. 21 in the grass in right field in front of the 21-foot wall named in his honor, so there were reminders of the beloved Pirates great everywhere at PNC Park. Cherington considers Clemente a life model for everyone in the organization because of the impact he made on and off the field.

“It’s a great way to celebrate Roberto’s legacy,” Cherington said. “What a blessing for the Pirates, for anybody that works for the Pirates, that cares about the Pirates, involved in the Pirates that Roberto Clemente wore a Pirates uniform and played his entire major league career as a Pirate. … Today’s a really cool day to be able to celebrate that on the field by honoring his number.”

Three Royals players also donned No. 21 in tribute to Clemente, which was permitted under special circumstances. Latin players are granted the option, so Venezuelan catcher Salvador Perez and right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo, whose paternal grandfather is Puerto Rican, chose to do so. Right fielder Adam Frazier also was allowed because he’d worn it in the past for the Pirates.

“Those are cool things because I think we’re starting to gain some momentum with it,” Shelton said. “We’re growing the awareness of Clemente. That’s what’s really important.”

Before the game, the Pirates recognized two-time All-Star closer David Bednar for being the team’s three-time nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes a major league player who best represents the game “through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, on and off the field.”

The on-field presentation included past Clemente Award winner Andrew McCutchen and Clemente’s sons, Luis, Roberto Jr. and Ricky, who threw out ceremonial first pitches.

“Being nominated for the award is something that’s very special,” Shelton said. “Winning the award is the ultimate for a player that does things in our game that are different. It’s something that I do think a lot of guys take a lot of pride in.”

Pirates pitcher Jared Jones thought so, given he prefers to wear a black game jersey for his starts at PNC Park but was happy to make an exception on Roberto Clemente Day.

“That was the first time I wore a white jersey since being in the big leagues,” Jones said. “So if I were to wear it for anyone, I’m glad it’s him.”

And rookie right fielder Billy Cook made a pair of plays that served as a fitting tribute to Clemente, a 12-time Gold Glove winner in right field, by throwing out a runner at home plate in the third inning and scoring from first base on a single for the go-ahead run in the fifth inning while wearing his No. 21.

“It was awesome seeing the 21, and I think even more special because it was just out in right field,” Cook said. “And he played an amazing right field. So just being able to play the game the right way out there as a tribute to him while wearing the number, really special. Again, that’s my first ‘Clemente Day’. Having the privilege to be at home, in right field today was very special.”