Call Me Roberto!

By Nathalie Alonso, Rudy Gutierrez (Illustrator)

A baseball legend battles racism to achieve greatness on and off the field.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 314 ratings

40 pages· 1,038 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud

$19.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Roberto Clemente, a young baseball enthusiast from Puerto Rico, faces the harsh realities of racism as he rises to fame in Major League Baseball. Despite the challenges, his talent and determination shine through, captivating fans and breaking barriers. As he joins the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente's journey is marked by both triumph and prejudice, leaving a lasting impact on Black, Latino, and American history. This inspiring tale, woven with English and Spanish, invites readers to explore the highs and lows of a sports icon who defied the odds to become one of the greatest players of all time.

From the publisher

A Robert F. Sibert Honor BookALSC Notable Children’s BookNorman A. Sugarman Children’s Biography Award Honor BookA BCCB Blue RibbonHorn Book Fanfare 20242025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book WinnerNPR’s Books We Love List 2024New York Public Library Best Book 2024Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2024Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for Kids 2024Included on the 2025 ALSC Día Reading List Here is the inspirational story of Major League Baseball player Roberto Clemente–not Bob–who endured years of racism and discrimination to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time. ★ School Library Journal, starred review★ The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review★ Publishers Weekly, starred review★ The Horn Book, starred review Roberto Clemente always loved baseball. Growing up in Carolina, Puerto Rico, he swung tree branches (since he didn’t have a bat) and hit tin cans. He was always batting, pitching, running, sliding. His dedication paid off when, at the age of 19, he was tapped for a major league team. First stop: chilly Montreal . . . where he warmed the bench and himself, longing to play baseball. Months later, he finally got his chance with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Clemente had an instant impact on the field–hitting the ball and making it to first base and finally home. Many Pittsburgh fans loved his bold style on the field, but not everyone was quick to embrace a Black man from Puerto Rico who spoke español. This nonfiction picture book by MLB.com journalist Nathalie Alonso and award-winning illustrator Rudy Gutierrez shows the emotional highs and lows of Roberto Clemente’s career as he fought racism–from fans, reporters, and other figures in the sport–to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time. With English and Spanish words intermingled in the text, this book will inspire young readers as they learn about Clemente’s contributions to Black, Latino, and American history.