From 1964 through 1972 Steve Blass was a teammate of Roberto Clemente. In SCD Classic Sports Memorabilia Blass recalled the night he heard of Clemente's plane going down, "We were hosting a New Year's Eve party for our neighbors when we got the phone call. They said that his plane had gone down. that ended the party real quick. Dave Giusti and his wife were staying over, but we couldn't get to sleep; not after the phone call. Dave and I decided to go over to Joe Brown's (the Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager) house to see what kind of info we could get. From there, we went on over to Willie Stargell's house. It was a day I'll never forget."

Roberto Clemente Eulogy by Steve Blass

We've been to the wars together
We took our foes as they came,
And always you were the leader,
And ever you played the game.

Idol of cheering multitudes;
Records are yours by sheaves
Iron of frame they hailed you:
Decked you with laurel leaves.

But higher than we hold you;
We who have known you best,
Knowing the way you came through
Every human test.

Let this be a silent token
Of lasting friendships gleam,
And all that we've left unspoken —
Your friends on the Pirates team.

On January 4, 1973, Steve Blass read the eulogy (above) at a memorial service for Roberto Clemente held in Carolina, Puerto Rico. It was adapted from a tribute that was offered at Lou Gehrig's passing and used only after Bill Guilfoyle (the Pittsburgh Pirates Publicity Director) received permission from the New York Yankees.

After Blass threw a complete game victory for the Pirates in Game 7 of the 1971 World Series, Orioles Manager Earl Weaver said, "Clemente was great all right, but if it hadn't been for Mr. Blass, we might be popping the corks right now!" Decades later the clutch / control pitcher of his era is often remembered more for "Steve Blass Disease" which has its own Wikipedia entry: "Steve Blass Disease" has become, in sports jargon, a term for a psychological condition manifested when an athlete suddenly and inexplicably loses the ability to perform even basic functions in assignments he previously excelled in. Other baseball players who have suffered similar problems include Steve Sax, Chuck Knoblauch, Rick Ankiel, and Mark Wohlers.