When baseball legend Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash in 1972, on a mission of mercy to victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake, the world not only lost a great man, but someone with extraordinary dreams. Well before his passing, Clemente had plans to open up clinics, schools, charities, and an ambitious sports complex in his native Puerto Rico, to help rescue underprivileged and misdirected youth. His sudden death appeared to end all that. But\u201d\u201das so often happens\u201d\u201dGod brings triumph out of tragedy, and in the years that followed, he did just that.<\/p>\n
Today, many of Clemente\u2019s most ambitious plans have come to pass, including a magnificent 304-acre Ciudad Deportiva (Sports City) in his native city of Carolina, overseen by his family and friends. The scope of Clemente\u2019s legacy has become global, with his name attached to countless institutions, awards and events. What is less well known is where Clemente\u2019s inspiring vision actually came from: his profound Christian faith.<\/p>\n