C. Trent Rosecrans

crosecrans@enquirer.com

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Michael Lorenzen wore No. 55 in college, he wore No. 79 last spring and then wore No. 50 as a rookie in 2015.

Once again, Lorenzen has a new number. This time, though, it’s more of than just a number on his back, part of his autograph or the way to identify which spikes are his. Every time he looks and sees the No. 21 below his last name, it’s a reminder.

No. 21 reminds Lorenzen that his mission in life is bigger than baseball, bigger than a single game or a single pitch. Lorenzen wants to stand for something much more, to use baseball for more than a paycheck, but to do something bigger, to live up to the very reason he is now wearing No. 21, to honor the late, great Roberto Clemente.

Always a fan of the history of the game, Lorenzen knew the history and story of the Pirates great. One of the first great Latin American stars, Clemente was not only a leader on the field, someone who stood for much more off the field. Every year, Major League Baseball awards the Roberto Clemente Award to a player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.”

Clemente died in a plane crash on Dec. 31, 1972, en route to delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

The stories of Clemente have always resonated with Lorenzen.

After talking about his admiration for Clemente on Twitter, a Reds fan gave him his ticket from Game 5 of the 1972 National League Championship Series at Riverfront Stadium, a 3-2 Reds victory over the Pirates that sent Cincinnati to the World Series, but also what would prove to be Clemente’s last game. Lorenzen now keeps that ticket stub – Gate 4, Aisle 346, Row 7, Seat 109, list price $5 – in a protective baseball card case inside a bible he keeps in his locker in Goodyear.

“Doing what he did is not easy, giving his life – instead of using this game to glorify yourself and gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, he used this game to give to people,” Lorenzen said of Clemente. “It’s the same as Jackie Robinson, that stuff needs to be recognized in that way, it needs to be encouraged. In this world today, the platform we have today as baseball players, it should be encouraged for sure. Roberto and Jackie are two people who definitely deserve it.”

Lorenzen’s admiration for Clemente grew this offseason when he went to Puerto Rico as part of a group of baseball players with UPI (Unlimited Potential, Inc.), spreading the Christian message through baseball.

Lorenzen's group in Puerto Rico was led by former big leaguer Tony Graffanino also included White Sox minor leaguer Nick Besto and former big leaguer Anthony Telford. But the biggest honor for even a big leaguer like Lorenzen was the participation of the Clemente family in their free baseball camps.

“To go there and find out that we’re going to be doing every camp with the Clemente family was insane,” Lorenzen said. “I was in shock.”

He was also honored to get to know the Clemente family, including Clemente’s widow, Vera, and even visit their home.

“We went to Mrs. Clemente’s house and hang out there, they’d make us food. We’d eat. It’s like we were family,” Lorenzen said.

At one of those dinners, Lorenzen said he told the Clemente family that one day he would like to wear No. 21, to honor Clemente. At the time, Todd Frazier wore No. 21 with the Reds, so Lorenzen didn’t think it’d be happening anytime soon.

But then in December, the Reds traded Frazier, and Lorenzen thought of that conversation.

“I asked (clubhouse manager) Rick (Stowe) and let him know why. He was kind enough and generous enough to allow me in my second year to have a uniform change,” Lorenzen said.

While there has been a movement afoot for several years to have Clemente’s No. 21 retired throughout baseball, just like Robinson’s No. 42, Lorenzen is happy he can wear it now.

“I was 55 in college, I was wondering what numbers I should go with for my career. Just going to Puerto Rico and seeing the whole Clemente family come out to camp with the Pirates jersey with the 21 and ‘Clemente’ on the back. It was so cool,” Lorenzen said. “Now, every time I walk up to my locker, it’s refreshing to know there’s a reason behind the number, it’s not just some random number that I like. There’s a reason before it, I need to wear it with a lot of respect and pride. It’s very easy to put it on and be grateful for each time I get to put it on.”