The recent death of Muhammad Ali - who some consider the most charismatic and controversial sports figure of the 20th century - showed how the former boxing champion overcame the controversies of his past to become a beloved figure across the world.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson looks at how Ali and baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente helped him overcome his own racial intolerance by being more than the sum of their athletic gifts.
 

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard "Pete" Peterson, the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente.