Join BMNAR as we go to bat for number 21: Operation Batter-Up collects baseball equipment by Rodriguez

Eliezer Rodriguez, Bronx - Manhattan North Association of Realtors

It was mid-afternoon on December 31, 2005. I was waiting at the airport in Puerto Rico to load our chartered aircraft with 16,000 pounds of humanitarian aid. The aid was tightly packed in 21 pallets and was going to Managua, Nicaragua as a symbolic gesture of completing the mission that took the life of the great Pittsburgh Pirate right fielder, Roberto Clemente, 33 years before. The project was called “The Flight for Humanity (Mr. Clemente’s Last At-Bat).”

The great humanitarian and baseball legend, Clemente, died on December 31, 1972, while delivering 16,000 pounds of aid to the earthquake victims of Nicaragua. The earthquake killed over 20,000 people and left hundreds of thousand injured and homeless. To this day, Nicaragua has not recovered from that devastating earthquake.

A dream inspired me to take on the task of completing Clemente’s last humanitarian effort. After completing law school in 1999, I took on a part time job at Langsam Property Service (Langsam). The job afforded me the opportunity to research how best to make my dream come true. When I was ready, I approached Mark Engel, CEO of Langsam, and I shared my project with him. Engel was very supportive and gave my project a cubicle from where I could continue with its development. The cubicle was affectionately named “Right Field,” Clemente’s baseball position. Engel introduced me to many members from the Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors (BMNAR), including “Mr. Bronx” himself, Dr. Elias Karmon.

In September of 2000, I created Project Club Clemente (PCC) to educate, promote and celebrate the legacy of Number 21–Clemente’s jersey number. Clemente’s mission to Nicaragua and his untimely death have permanently influenced many lives. Schools, parks, streets, stadiums, to mention a few, are named after him. Clemente showed us how to love, respect and care for each other--despite the color of our skin. My goal was to introduce Clemente to our youth and teach them Clemente’s values: friendship, loyalty, love, faith, community and commitment. Clemente stepped up to the plate to help Nicaragua, but he never got his last at-bat. His mission was never completed. However, all that changed on December 31, 2005. With the help of Mark Engel and members of BMNAR, we were able to raise the necessary funds and “The Flight for Humanity” landed in Nicaragua shortly before midnight on December 31st.

After completing The Flight, PCC became inactive. It was time to reflect on our successes and the many disappointments. I needed time to heal. Doing a good deed is not easy! For the next seven years, I practiced law. Then, near the end of 2012, I was offered the opportunity to take over as the association executive officer of BMNAR. I am now managing the association that was so instrumental in helping me complete “The Flight for Humanity.”

Since 2015, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) requires all Realtor associations to engage in community service. It so happens that December 2015 marked the 10^th Anniversary of “The Flight.” To celebrate the occasion, BMNAR has partnered with The Bronx YMCA and the Bronxchester Little League to assist PCC with “Operation Batter-Up.” This “Operation” refers to the collection of slightly used or new baseball equipment that will then be shipped to the YMCA in Nicaragua where it will be distributed to little leagues.

“Operation Batter-Up” will collect equipment until September 30, 2016. So, clean out your garages/storage areas of your slightly used baseball equipment and you can drop them off at: 1) BMNAR, 1867 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx, New York; and 2) YMCA, 2 Castle Hill Avenue, Bronx, NY. New baseball equipment and monetary donations will also be accepted. For more information on “Operation Batter-Up,” call (718) 892-3000. Please join BMNAR and go to bat for Number 21!

Eliezer Rodriguez is the executive director of The Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors.