Pittsburgh Pirates’ legend Roberto Clemente has been gone for more than 50 years, following his tragic death in 1972 in a plane crash while assisting his native Puerto Rico after an earthquake.

Now, three Pennsylvania state representatives want the Commonwealth to honor the first Latin American baseball superstar.

Reps. Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny), Danilo Burgos (D-Philadelphia) and Jose Giral (D-Philadelphia) are proposing legislation to establish September 15, 2023, as “Roberto Clemente Day” in the state.

A 15-time All Star and 1966 National League MVP, Clemente played 18 seasons with the Pirates, winning four batting titles and 12 Gold Gloves. He registered his 3,000th hit of his career on the final day of the 1972 season in what turned out to be the final game of his career.

In the off-season, Clemente served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1959-64 while also devoting his time to help people in need across the states and in Central America. While delivering supplies for victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake, Clemente died when his plane crashed off the coast of Puerto Rico on Dec. 31, 1972.

In their co-sponsorship memo, the representatives wrote “To honor the life and legacy of Roberto Clemente, we are introducing a resolution to recognize September 15, 2023, as “Roberto Clemente Day” in Pennsylvania. Major League Baseball recognizes this date to honor Clemente, coinciding with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month.”

The significance of September 15 is that it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua and a day prior to Mexican Independence Day.

updated to reflect Clemente’s death in 1972, not 1973.