Pirates draw heat for removing Roberto Clemente tribute in right field

The Pittsburgh Pirates generated friction with fans during the team’s location opener arsenic they were speedy to constituent retired that a tribute to Roberto Clemente was removed from the right-field wall.

Clemente’s No. 21 was marked adjacent the foul rod astatine PNC Park to grant the precocious outfielder who tragically died successful a level clang portion delivering assistance to Nicaragua successful 1972. The enactment honored Clemente’s bequest with respective tributes astir the stadium since his death. MLB declared Sept. 15 Roberto Clemente Day.

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Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente poses for a representation astatine Forbes Field successful Pittsburgh. (Malcolm Emmons-USA Today Sports)

But arsenic the 2025 play got underway, the right-field partition tribute was replaced with a motion for the alcoholic beverage Surfside.

Roberto Clemente Jr. was among those unhappy with the move.

"Yesterday, I was shocked to larn that the Clemente 21 motion – a tribute to my begetter connected the close partition astatine PNC Park astatine Pittsburgh – had been removed and replaced by an advertisement," his connection connected Sunday read. "The Change was made without connection oregon consultation with our family.

"While we admit that the Pirates acknowledged their nonaccomplishment to pass us, it reveals a broader issue: a deficiency of meaningful collaboration betwixt the enactment and connected matters that are profoundly idiosyncratic and historically important to america and the fans."

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The statue of erstwhile Pirates close fielder Roberto Clemente extracurricular of PNC Park successful Pittsburgh, Sept. 15, 2024. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

He added that the "outpouring of support" from fans was "deeply appreciated."

"We person ever been unfastened to gathering a sincere and lasting concern with the Pirates, 1 grounded successful respect and shared values. Our anticipation is that the infinitesimal serves arsenic an accidental for reflection, paving the mode for a much thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative narration moving forward. I mean to scope retired to the Pirates to straight research this further."

Others reacted to the determination to region the tribute connected societal media.

The Pirates reversed people connected Sunday.

"We did not mean to disrespect the bequest of Roberto Clemente by adding the advertisement to the pad successful close field," squad president Travis Williams said successful a statement.

"When we added the advertisement to the pad, it was an oversight not to support the No. 21 logo. This is yet connected me, not anyone other successful the organization. It was an honorable mistake."

Roberto Clemente Jr., lad of Hall of Fame close fielder Roberto Clemente, successful the dugout earlier the Baltimore Orioles crippled astatine PNC Park, June 21, 2011. (Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE)

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The squad said it would instrumentality the No.  21 logo.

"We person utilized this country for advertisements for galore years. When we didn’t person a sponsor coming retired of COVID, we added an further constituent successful 2022 to grant the bequest of Roberto," Williams added. "It was a replica of the Three Rivers signate honoring him.

"This is successful summation to the galore elements passim the shot parkland that grant his legacy, including the information that the partition is named the Roberto Clemente Wall, is 21 feet gangly and has 2 No. 21s connected it.

"We privation to marque definite that the Clemente household understands that we intended nary disrespect to their father. We look guardant to continuing our narration with the Clemente household and apologize to them and our fans for our honorable mistake."

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