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By Victor Curfman
For the Altoona Mirror
Museum collection 'overwhelming'
It was with great anticipation that I drove down Route 22 on my way to the Roberto Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh, for my first and definitely not my last visit.
Clemente was my hero growing up. My absolute favorite memory (other than my wedding and the birth of my son) was being at his 3,000th hit game on Sept. 30, 1972.
When I heard he tragically died, I was devastated.
For the last 50-plus years, I have collected many items related to Clemente -- photos, cards, prints, statues and many other items.
I have been fortunate enough to meet his late wife, Vera, and sons Roberto Jr. and Luis and have a cherished photo with them, my wife Susan and son Christopher in front of the Clemente statue celebrating the 25th anniversary of his 3,000th hit.
Entering the museum, I was absolutely overwhelmed.
Words cannot describe the quantity and quality of the museum's items and their presentation.
Museum executive director and curator Duane Rieder presents the world's largest collection of Clemente photos, artifacts, memorabilia and artwork.
When you walk through the door, you see life-size photos of Clemente on the wall. You can sit on the Pirates' dugout bench from Three Rivers Stadium.
As you scan around the restored 1800s' firehouse, you can't wait to start your tour. Like me, our tour guide, Vince, grew up in the '60s, passionate about Pirate baseball and Clemente.
He told the story of Clemente, not just the ballplayer but also the humanitarian.
Most know that Clemente died tragically trying to get supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua, but Vince told us about many of Clemente's other acts of kindness and generosity.
If it's baseball memorabilia you want to see, where do I start?
There's game used bats, uniforms, a couple of the 12 consecutive gold gloves won by Clemente, one of the Silver Bats awarded for being National League batting champ, actual contracts and the most impressive collection of Clemente baseball cards one could imagine.
A room is dedicated just to the 1971 World Series, of which Clemente was the MVP.
Unfortunately, there were a lot of items that are currently on loan to a museum in Puerto Rico that I didn't get to see.
When you go up the stairs to the second floor, the handrails are actual bats of former Pirates.
On the second floor, there is a room dedicated to the Negro Leagues and Black Baseball in Pittsburgh.
There is also memorabilia donated by many current and former players, and the collection of signed baseballs from the members of the 3,000th hit club is very impressive.
Of course, there are many more Clemente items on display throughout the second floor, where there is the photography studio of Duane Rieder, an accomplished photographer who has acquired the negatives for most of the photos in the museum.
Rieder has the negatives from former Pirates' team photographer Les Banos, who took the photos of Clemente's 3,000th hit that are known by most baseball aficionados.
I was fortunate to have met Banos in the '90s and am the proud owner of his print of the 3,000th hit. The gift area sells photos by Banos and from other negatives held by Rieder.
The proceeds from those and the sale of wines from the Engine House 25 Winery -- which is located inn the basement -- support the mission of the museum.
If interested in scheduling a museum tour, go to clementemuseum.com or call 412-621-1268.
It will be an experience that will live within you forever.
Victor Curfman resides in Altoona.