Editing Roberto Clemente (section)

===Puerto Rican baseball (1952–1954)===
Clemente's professional career began at age 18 when he accepted a contract from Pedrín Zorrilla with [[Cangrejeros de Santurce (baseball)|Cangrejeros de Santurce]] ("Crabbers"), a winter league team and franchise of the [[Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League]] (LBPPR). Clemente signed with the team on October 9, 1952. He was a bench player during his first season but was promoted to the Cangrejeros' starting lineup the following season. During this season he hit .288 as the team's leadoff hitter.<ref>[[#Maraniss|Maraniss]], pp. 27.</ref>

While Clemente was playing in the Puerto Rican League, the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] offered him a contract of $15,000 – $10,000 bonus and $5000 league minimum salary. Clemente signed with them on February 19, 1954.<ref>[[#Maraniss|Maraniss]], pp. 36-38.</ref>