This December marks 38 years in which Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star Outfielder and the country’s first Latino American Hall of Famer, lost his life in a plane crash. To honor the life and legacy of this baseball legend, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center will host the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit, Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente beginning December 4.

Clemente helped forge a path to the major leagues for the masses of Latino ballplayers that would follow him, similar to what Jackie Robinson did for African Americans a decade earlier. Clemente addressed the issue of racism openly in the media, refusing to accept the status quo. Throughout his life, Clemente demonstrated extraordinary devotion to his community and homeland. His humanitarian work resulted in the founding of "Sports City," an athletic complex near San Juan, Puerto Rico for disadvantaged youth. His advocacy for the rights and importance of the peoples of Latin America was strengthened by his cultural identification with them despite his stardom. Tragically, Clemente lost his life in a plane crash while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. In his 38 years, Roberto Clemente became a baseball legend in the United States and a national icon in his homeland.

Beyond Baseball was developed by the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico with the Carimar Design and Research Studio, and organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The exhibit will be on display at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center located at 200 E. Martin Luther King Boulevard through January 30 before continuing on a 20-city national tour through 2012.

Visitors can tour this exhibition as well as other exhibits at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center Monday through Friday between 10 am and 5 pm on Saturdays from noon to 4 pm. General admission is $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and students, $3 for children ages 6-12. Members and children 5 and under are free. To learn about membership opportunities or to obtain additional information about this exhibit and others, call (423) 266-8658 or visit www.bessiesmithcc.org.