“Roberto Opened the Doors”: Beltrán on Following Clemente to Cooperstown

On July 26, Carlos Beltrán becomes the sixth Hall of Famer born in Puerto Rico — joining Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Alomar, Iván Rodríguez and Edgar Martínez. Caught up with at Fanatics Fest, the nine-time All-Star spoke about the honor with the weight of that lineage clearly on his mind.

“It’s a big blessing,” Beltrán told WBN. “I’m excited to share that moment with my family — something I will always remember. And to share the same stage with so many people that, growing up, I looked up to.”

One name anchored the conversation, as it does for every ballplayer raised on the island. Beltrán framed his own induction as an extension of Clemente’s.

“Roberto basically opened the doors for all of us,” he said. “Growing up in Puerto Rico, he was the guy we really looked up to, and we wanted to emulate everything he did in the game of baseball — but not only about playing the game. Also about being involved in the community, using the platform God has given you to hopefully bless others.”

It’s a fitting way for Beltrán to talk. In 2013 he won MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award for his community work, presented by Clemente’s widow, Vera, who called him “the pride of all Puerto Ricans.” The player who grew up wanting to be Clemente now carries a piece of his name.

Beltrán closed by pointing forward — to the kids on the island, and to the work still left to do. Reflecting on his time as general manager of Puerto Rico’s World Baseball Classic team, he made the case for continued investment.

“We still need to continue to invest in the youth on the island,” he said. “Hopefully we can create more opportunities for kids to fall in love with baseball, softball — and to follow their dreams.”