Chicago Puerto Rican museum exhibit highlights power of America's pastime in Latino communities

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A new exhibit highlighting the cultural impact of Latinos through the lens of baseball is now open at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Humboldt Park.

During this Hispanic Heritage Month, museum attendees can see the showcase of a Puerto Rican icon.

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Roberto Clemente is a Puerto Rican legend. Now, his legacy is on display for all to see for free at the only National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in the country right in Chicago's Humboldt Park, celebrating the Latino community through America's favorite pastime.

He's a baseball Hall of Famer who was the recent subject of a History Channel documentary. A renowned humanitarian, Clemente...now part of a major league feature in Humboldt Park demonstrating the power of America's favorite pastime as a catalyst for Latino communities.

"Baseball has always been very big in Puerto Rico," said Billy Ocasio, National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture Executive Director. "And as Puerto Ricans started to move here into the US in the 50s and 60s, baseball just became a way of life and it became a way to gather up community."

The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is now celebrating 25 years in operation as a free museum based in the rehabbed and renovated former horse stables in Chicago's cultural center for Puerto Ricans, Humboldt Park.

"It's so important for the Puerto Rican people to be able to share our history, our culture and our traditions, not only with each other, but to have others learn about who we are," Ocasio said. "A lot of people don't even know that Puerto Ricans are citizens of the U.S."

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The new exhibit, "Pleibol," centers on the rich history of baseball in Latin America and Clemente, the world famous Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder and altruist who died tragically in a plane crash delivering humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

"You'll see things around not only Clemente, but it's an exhibit that deals with Latinos and Latinos in baseball and softball throughout the country, not just in the major leagues, but throughout the country and neighborhoods," Ocasio said.

Clemente's legacy lives on in a picture titled "Angel Wings," with Clemente in the air catching a baseball, feathered clouds spreading out behind him is iconic. He's brought to life partly through the artifacts at the museum, partly through the continued pluck, perseverance and play of the game he loved in Latino communities like Humboldt Park and Puerto Rico.

"Is really about bringing communities together, giving people a sense of ownership, a sense of pride and a way to share with each other," Ocasio said. "That's really what play ball is all about."

This is such an enriching experience and the museum is one of a kind in the country. Pleibol will be at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture through March 14 of next year.