Posted on: Saturday, June 18, 2005

Clemente crash debris pulled from auction

Associated Press

NEW YORK — Debris from the plane crash that killed Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente was pulled from a memorabilia auction after his family threatened a lawsuit.

Seaford, N.Y.-based Lelands.com announced yesterday it was pulling two items — a light metal piece of the airplane and a gray steel propeller — from the collection of four dozen Clemente mementos.

"Lelands.com did exactly what they had to do to avoid severe legal action and salvage what is left of their damaged reputation," Roberto Clemente Jr. said in a statement. "They made a tasteless business decision by trying to make a quick buck off of my father's tragedy and they were exposed. It is a shame what some people will do for money."

Clemente, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, died Dec. 31, 1972, when the DC-7 he was on crashed after takeoff from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The plane was headed to Nicaragua with supplies for earthquake victims.

Clemente's family two weeks ago said it was considering legal action to stop the auction house from selling the airplane parts.

"This episode has caused me and the entire Clemente family considerable pain over the last few weeks, and we are glad to finally put this behind us," the son said.

Lelands.com plans to return the light metal piece, measuring 19 inches by 14 inches at its largest point, to the collector who consigned the item into the auction. The propeller will be donated to the Puerto Rico Sports Museum.