NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Neil Walker will forever be linked to Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.
CBS2’s Otis Livingston reported Wednesday a life-altering decision made by Walker’s father and the Pittsburgh Pirates legend over 43 years ago changed the course of the New York Mets second baseman’s entire family.
On New Year’s Eve in 1972, Tom Walker, Neil Walker’s father, was helping his good friend Clemente pack food and supplies on a plane bound for Nicaragua where an earthquake killed nearly 6,000 people and left a quarter-million homeless.
Tom Walker wanted to join Clemente on the ill-fated plane and help deliver supplies, but Clemente told him no and to enjoy New Year’s Eve instead.