Ages 9 to 13 years. The New York Dodgers drafted Roberto Clementeto play baseball for them from Puerto Rico where the only language that he knew was Spanish when he was only eighteen years old. At first, fans laughed at his Spanish accent; some even disliked him for the colour of his skin. Roberto, however, would later become one of baseballs most popular players and greatest hitters while he played fro the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even though Roberto Clemente could not speak English and was dark skinned, he proved himself to be a great ball player simply by the way he played the game.