Clemente named to all-time defensive team

PITTSBURGH, June 18 (UPI) -- The late Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente is set to be honored Saturday as a member of the Rawlings Gold Glove All-Time baseball team.

The event before a home game against the Toronto Blue Jays will include a presentation of a trophy to his family, noting that the 12-time Gold Glove winner is among the nine best defensive players in Major League Baseball history, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported Wednesday. Clemente died in a 1972 plane crash delivering humanitarian supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua.

The rest of the team voted on by fans included catcher Johnny Bench, first baseman Wes Parker, second baseman Joe Morgan, shortstop Ozzie Smith, third baseman Brooks Robinson, outfielders Willie Mays and Ken Griffey, Jr., and pitcher Greg Maddux.

"This honor recognizes what all Pirates fans have known for a long time, that Roberto Clemente was the greatest right fielder to ever play the game. Roberto was a champion and an unparalleled humanitarian," Pirate team president Frank Coonelly said.