The Pittsburgh pirates generated friction with fans when the team’s home opening, as they quickly stressed that a tribute to Roberto Clemente was removed from the right field wall.
The N ° 21 of Clemente was marked near the Pôle-Pole of the PNC Park to honor the deceased voltiger who died tragically in a plane crash while providing aid to Nicaragua in 1972. The organization honored Clemente’s inheritance with several tributes around the stadium since his death. MLB said Roberto Clemente Day on September 15.
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The Pirates Roberto Clemente Pirates poses for a portrait at the Field Field in Pittsburgh. (Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY SPORTS)
But as the 2025 season started, the wall tribute to the right field was replaced by a sign for the surfside of the alcoholic drink.
Roberto Clemente Jr. was among those who are unhappy with the move.
“Yesterday, I was shocked to learn that the Clemente 21 panel – a tribute to my father on the right wall of the PNC park in Pittsburgh – had been deleted and replaced by an advertisement,” his declaration said on Sunday. “The change was made without communication or consultation with our family.
“Although we appreciate that hackers have recognized their inability to inform us, this reveals a broader problem: a significant lack of collaboration between the organization and on deeply personal and historically significant questions for us and the fans.”
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The statue of the former Roberto Clemente right pirates outside the PNC park in Pittsburgh, September 15, 2024. (Charles Leclaire-Imagn Images)
He added that “the fans’ support of support” was “deeply appreciated”.
“We have always been open to the creation of a sincere and lasting partnership with the pirates, a based on respect and shared values. Our hope is that the time is used for reflection, opening the way to a more thoughtful, transparent and collaborative relationship in the future. I intend to reach out to pirates to explore this directly.”
Others reacted to the decision to remove the tribute on social networks.
The pirates reversed the course on Sunday.
“We did not intend to lack respect for the inheritance of Roberto Clemente by adding advertising to the PAD in the right field,” said Travis Williams team in a statement.
“When we added advertising to the PAD, it was surveillance not to keep logo n ° 21. It is ultimately on me, no one else in the organization. It was an honest error.”
Roberto Clemente Jr., son of the right defender of the renowned temple Roberto Clemente, in the canoe before the Baltimore Orioles match at PNC Park, June 21, 2011. (Charles Leclaire-USPRESSWire)
The team said it would make logo n ° 21.
“We have used this area for advertisements for many years. When we did not have a sponsor out of Covid, we added an additional element in 2022 to honor Roberto’s inheritance,” added Williams. “It was a replica of the signat of the three rivers honoring him.
“This is added to the many elements of the Ball park which honor its heritage, including the fact that the wall is named Roberto Clemente Wall, measures 21 feet high and two n ° 21.
“We want to make sure that the Clemente family understands that we had no lack of respect for their father. We are impatient to continue our relationship with the Clemente family and apologize for our fans for our honest error.”
