Still from new documentary ‘Clemente,’ which will show at The Lindsay Theater in Sewickley starting on Sept. 12.
Starting Sept. 12, the world will get a glimpse at another side of a Pittsburgh sports legend.
New documentary “Clemente” may be about one of the greatest Pittsburgh Pirates of all time, but it’s not just about baseball — the film is more focused on the man behind the uniform.
“I wanted to make something that’s inspiring to people,” said David Altrogge, director, writer and producer of “Clemente.” “I think there’s just so much darkness and division in the world, and I just wanted to do something that reminded myself and my kids, ‘We can be good.'”
Roberto Clemente was born in Puerto Rico in 1934 and played with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 until his death in 1972. The right fielder was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame after a 1973 special election, and the Pirates have retired his number — 21.
But that’s just his career. “Clemente” digs deeper into his charity work, his family and the racism and prejudice that he faced.
Altrogge is a native of Indiana, Pa., and he currently resides in Mt. Lebanon. His production company, Vinegar Hill, has done commercials and documentaries. “Clemente” as a project was born in 2018.
He was never very into sports growing up.
“I remembered hearing that this guy named Roberto Clemente died helping people. That was about all I knew. And then I started doing research and just was blown away by how he lived, both in the limelight when he was on the field and in private when he was off the field.”
Clemente passed away at the age of 38 on Dec. 31, 1972, in a plane crash. He was in the process of taking aid to Managua, Nicaragua, which had been devastated by an earthquake days before.
“Clemente” boasts some heavy hitters attached — including Clemente’s three sons, Roberto Jr., Luis and Enrique, who all serve as executive producers on the doc.
“After 50 years, a legacy as strong as our father’s deserves a fresh perspective for the younger generation, and we are excited for audiences to see what director David Altrogge captured,” reads a statement from the Clemente family, in part.
“I just felt really honored that they trusted me with their family story the way they did,” Altrogge said.
It also includes interviews with figures including Rita Moreno, Bob Costas and filmmaker Richard Linklater, who also serves as an executive producer.
Also instrumental in the process of the film’s creation was Duane Rider, who founded and serves as executive director of the Clemente Museum. This gave Altrogge access to arguably the largest collection of Roberto Clemente memorabilia, archival footage and photos in the world.
“If you haven’t been to the Clemente Museum, you’ve got to go. It almost feels like a church. You go in and there’s just such striking images,” Altrogge said.
“Clemente” has been making its rounds to film festivals since 2024, including SXSW and the Three Rivers Film Festival. It will release in theaters — including the Lindsay Theater in Sewickley — on Sept. 12.
Altrogge is encouraged by the responses of viewers so far.
“After six years, to be able to share this with an audience and get the reactions that the film gets, it’s just so incredibly rewarding.”
He’s witnessed the emotional highs and lows of the film in the cheers, gasps and sniffles of audiences, from the joy and excitement at the Pirates’ World Series wins in 1960 and 1971 to the tears at the film’s tragic conclusion.
“The film festival run was amazing, it was so wonderful. But I’m excited for it to be available for the world,” Altrogge said.
