Exclusive: ‘Roberto Clemente in Retrospect’

Cover Story for Fall’s Pittsburgh Quarterly

When I added Points in Pittsburgh to Autonomia’s featured revolving series this first year, I knew some readers might wonder why. When I think of larger than life heroes, which is part of this publication’s purpose to explore, the city of bridges comes to mind. This makes me happy to share with you, dear founding or paid subscriber, a link to my exclusive cover story for Pittsburgh’s top magazine.

The article for Pittsburgh Quarterly, which went to press on page 88 this summer for the 15th anniversary edition, took me to the ballpark, archives, libraries, museums, and, of course, to the statue recreating its topic, Roberto Clemente. Clemente is one of my first heroes. I’ve shared part of the impetus in an article for Autonomia. I am proud and optimistic about the extensive study, “Roberto Clemente in Retrospect: Why Did ‘The Great One’ Go Down?,” which you can finally read online.

For all I know, mine is the first article for publication to question and cast doubt on the mythology surro…