PHOENIX — Those of us in favor of retiring Roberto Clemente's No. 21 across Major League Baseball had to know five years ago that it had no chance. It was then, at Pittsburgh's All-Star Game, that Bud Selig presented the Clemente family with the Commissioner's Achievement Award — whatever that is — in Roberto's name and, essentially, quashed momentum building at the time.
But that might be changing.
In what undoubtedly has been my favorite experience of All-Star week, the Clementes told me they are formulating a Plan B, and a wonderful one at that.
I met with Vera Clemente, Roberto's widow, and Luis, one of three sons, Monday at a charity event. Upon sharing with them anew my views on retiring No. 21, Vera tapped her heart.
"I believe in destiny," she said. "I believe it's meant to be."
"But how?" I asked.
Selig was as blunt as can be in his World Series news conference two years ago when he declared that no player will have his number retired across baseball the way Jackie Robinson's No. 42 was in 1997. "Jackie Robinson transcended baseball," Selig said then. "You want to be very careful about retiring numbers. We honor Roberto every chance we get in every other way we can."
Vera began to answer my question when Luis jumped in to mention the plan, which is still in the formative stage but could be brought to baseball's powers before long. Per the plan, Luis said, a player could only wear No. 21 "if he earns it."
So, if a Puerto Rican such as the New York Mets' Carlos Beltran asks to wear the number and honor Clemente as many Latino players have done ...
"No," Vera interjected. "He has to earn it."
That's when it resonated: The only players who could wear No. 21 would be those who have won the Roberto Clemente Award, which has been given annually since 1972 — the year of Clemente's death — to players of all 30 teams who best exemplify excellence on and off the field.
It's so perfect, it hurts.
