HOUSTON -- Roberto Clemente once said, “I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give.” And players from the Astros and the Athletics remember the Hall of Famer for doing just that, both on and off the field.

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Thursday was not just another day at the ballpark; it was a chance for MLB to once again recognize a player central to baseball's history and legacy. Sept. 15 is Roberto Clemente Day, and teams across the Majors, including the Astros at Minute Maid Park, celebrated the former Pirates great’s legacy by showing a video tribute of what he meant to the game.

“Any time we can take a moment and pause to put a spotlight on Clemente, it means a lot,” Astros bench coach and Puerto Rico native Joe Espada said. “What he has done and represented is special. He’s an example of integrity and the work he did in the community should be remembered.”

Clemente means a lot to the entire baseball community, and being associated in any way with the legendary outfielder means a lot to players like Tony Kemp, who is Oakland’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee for 2022.

“It’s truly a humbling experience,” said Kemp, a Clemente Award nominee for a third straight year. “Roberto was a guy that everyone looked up to. He was a great teammate and did a lot in the community, so to be associated with him is special.”

Clemente is revered around the Major Leagues for his charitable efforts until his passing at the age of 38, right after his 15th All-Star season in 1972. He was flying to Nicaragua to help deliver aid to victims of an earthquake when his plane crashed.

The Puerto Rican was a role model for not just the impact he had off the field, but the player that he was in his 18 seasons in the big leagues. Clemente was a 12-time Gold Glove Award winner in right field, won the 1966 National League MVP, won four NL batting titles and helped lead the Pirates to World Series titles in 1960 and ’71 -- getting at least one hit in all 14 games he played.

Clemente was named MVP of the 1971 Fall Classic, in which Pittsburgh defeated the Orioles in seven games -- he hit .414 with two doubles, one triple and two home runs. He had exactly 3,000 hits in his magnificent MLB career.

But his greatest impact on the game may be the inspiration he has been for Latin baseball players, especially for Puerto Ricans.

“In Puerto Rico, they teach us who he was at an early age,” Astros catcher Christian Vázquez said in Spanish. “He’s very special to all of us Latino players. He helped us all out a lot and showed us an example of what it means to be a great player.”

A’s third baseman Vimael Machín added: “He means everything to us, especially us from Puerto Rico. What he did not only for Puerto Rico, but the whole Latin American community is incredible.”

Appreciation for what Clemente did was noticeable in both clubhouses on Thursday. Players wore patches to honor Clemente’s legacy, while others -- like Houston’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee Jose Altuve and Machin, as well as Astros hitting coach Alex Cintrón -- sported Clemente’s No. 21 jersey.