Clemente’s MVP car charges into Grand Prix
With the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix underway, Schenley Park in Oakland will be filled with powerful and beautiful vintage cars representing nearly 100 years of automobile history this weekend.
One car will stand out even more than the others. It won’t be driven and it certainly won’t race, but this 1972 Dodge Charger awarded to Pirates legend Roberto Clemente after he was named MVP of the 1971 World Series will be on display July 19- 21 at the entrance to the American Car Show on Schenley Drive.
The orange muscle car, which belongs to Florida auto dealer Randy Dye, has followed a long, bizarre road back to Pittsburgh. It was made in the colors of the Baltimore Orioles because the American League champs were World Series favorites in October 1971.
But the Pirates beat the Orioles in Game 7 and Clemente became the first Spanish- speaking baseball player to be named most valuable player. Before awarding him the car, someone erased the black racing stripe.
Clemente drove the car for the next year, leaving it at the airport when he died in a plane crash on Dec. 31, 1972, while en route to Nicaragua to deliver supplies to victims of a massive earthquake.
The car stayed in Clemente’s native Puerto Rico with his family until Mr. Dye purchased it at auction in 2017. Mr. Dye, 59, lives and owns Dodge dealerships in Florida but grew up in northwest Pennsylvania. He remembers seeing Clemente’s single that brought in the winning run in Game 5 of the 1971 World Series.
“I don’t think I can even call it a
crown jewel of my car collection because it’s so much more than a car,” Mr. Dye said in a phone interview.
Since buying the car, he said he has either restored or replaced every element. Most of the time, it sits on the showroom floor at one of his dealerships, covered with an elegant red cover. On the 21st of every month to commemorate Clemente’s now- retired number, Mr. Dye removes the cover to show off the car.
“We knew we were restoring not only history but also getting it ready for the future,” he said.
Mr. Dye said the 440horsepower Charger, like Clemente, was always destined for something more than a spot in a collector’s garage.
“Humanitarianism was his life. That was his legacy, and that was how he died,” he said. “It would make no sense for me to keep this car as a trophy.”
The Charger only travels to car shows with a charitable component, like the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, which this year will benefit the Autism Society of Pittsburgh. There are no prizes for winners of the races — besides an extra large serving of Hofbrauhaus beer — and all money raised benefits the year’s chosen charity.
The Clemente car will arrive in Pittsburgh this week and will be on display Friday through Sunday on the Bob O’Connor Golf Course in Schenley Park. Mr. Dye and the Charger will be at the Schenley Drive entrance and will be joined by Pirates broadcaster Steve Blass, who played alongside Clemente, on Friday from 1 to 2: 30 p. m.
Other events include a Walnut Street Car Show on Monday, Waterfront Car Cruise on Tuesday, Downtown Parade and Car Display on Wednesday, and shows featuring British, Asian and other cars and vintage motorbikes on Saturday and Sunday at Schenley Park.
The Vintage Grand Prix culminates in a day of racing on Sunday from 11 a. m. to 5 p. m in the park. It is the longest continually occurring vintage car race in the country. For a complete schedule and details, go to www. pvgp. org.
“I’ll never be fortunate enough to do anything as relevant again,” Mr. Dye said. “This is a once- in- alifetime opportunity.”