Roberto Clemente: 1961 NL Batting Champion and Hillerich Award Winner
The page highlights Roberto Walker Clemente, an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who earned the National League batting championship for the 1961 season with an impressive batting average of .351. At 27 years old, Clemente stood out as a significant player, having led his team with 201 hits, including 30 doubles and 10 triples. Early in the season, his average peaked at .380, and he maintained a strong performance throughout, with his average fluctuating between .350 and .365 from mid-July onwards. Clemente's accomplishments positioned him among baseball's elite, as he became the first player for the Pirates to achieve over 200 hits in a season since Wagner's 219 in 1937. His performance earned him the prestigious John A. "Bud" Hillerich Memorial Award, which recognized major league batting champions. This award included a sterling silver Louisville Slugger bat and a certificate in honor of John A.