The Pittsburgh Pirates are celebrating Clemente Day on Tuesday, honoring the life and legacy of their most memorable and beloved baseball player and humanitarian.
Every September 15 across Major League Baseball is Roberto Clemente Day, paying tribute to the late right fielder who left a lasting impact in Pittsburgh still felt over 50 years later.
Each season, the Roberto Clemente Award honors the player who best exemplifies Clemente’s work in the community, character, and a positive impact as a humanitarian
on and off the field.
The Pirates nominated second baseman Brandon Lowe as their 2026 recipient and is one of 30 nominees for the national award. Lowe was nominated by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022 for the Clemente Award.
In 2019, Lowe founded Home Runs for Hope and donated $100 for every home run he hit to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay to help those with mental health challenges. He has continued the initiative with the Pirates and has hit a single-season record 29 home runs for a Bucco second baseman, equaling $2,900 for charity.
The Pirates hosted numerous community events, including a food drive for veterans at PNC Park. Lowe is active in the Pittsburgh community and with Pirates Charities’ youth baseball and softball events.
All Pirates players will wear No. 21 when the team takes the field against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m.
Clemente passed away in a plane crash delivering relief efforts to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. His life and legacy live on through the Pirates, MLB, The Clemente Museum, and through the lives of fans.
