Exclusive: Roberto Clemente Jr. Pirates in Pittsburgh Officials found out on Monday that further respecting his legendary father’s legacy after the team removed the outfield of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The tribute was placed on the right field wall, which was the name of Roberto Clemente and the logo of No. 21. Fans noticed before the team’s home opener that the tribute was cancelled in support of the ads for alcoholic beverages.
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Roberto Clemente Jr., son of the Hall of Fame Roberto Clemente. (Charles Leclaire-uspresswire)
Clement’s son Express frustration The decision in the weekend’s statement, but he told Fox News the digits of the two sides’ thoughts on how to properly correct the situation after a preliminary conversation with the team.
“Now, we’re going to brainstorm. We need to eliminate some of the ideas we’ve listed. I won’t go into the details right now,” he said. “But I think we should have at least some real relationships in our new relationship with the Pirates over the next few weeks. I think there’s a reason for things to happen.
“This is something we feel really tied in with the team forever. I always say that I was born with an eyepatch and I would die with an eyepatch, even though I never played for the Pirates, but obviously, I’ve been connected and it doesn’t matter where I go, I am representing the Pirates and we, as a family, have always been ambassadors, not only to the game but for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“I do know that fans are supportive and frustrated with a lot of what is going on. I believe this conversation can be a big hit and that will benefit fans of Clement in Pittsburgh.”
Clement said he learned about the removal of the tribute through social media.
“I never really realized that the sign had fallen until I came home via social media and saw the posts there,” he explained. “It surprised me very much. I was surprised, obviously my reaction was ‘wow’. That’s what I said, and I left it for.
Opening day crowd watches the Pirates on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the New York Yankees at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
“I hardly knew it was going to catch fire, obviously with the fans and the team a lot of emotions and some frustration, and I think it was the last straw for many big pirates and Clement fans who took on their own expressions and obviously I didn’t have an overwhelming response. Obviously, “Wow” is not a fact, but it is actually a fact, it is really a fact, it is so big, it is exciting, it is shocking, it is shocking, it is shocking, it is shocking, it is shocking, it is shocking, it is so shocking, it is so shocking, it is so shocking, it is so shocking, it is so shocking, it is so shocking, it is so shocking, it is so shocking, it is so ad on the wall.”
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The Pirates said canceling the tribute was a “human mistake.”
“We do not intend to disrespect Roberto Clement’s legacy by adding ads to the mat in the right field,” Team President Travis Williams said in a statement.
“When we add ads to the mat, not keeping the No. 21 logo is a kind of oversight. It’s ultimately mine, not anyone else in the organization. It’s an honest mistake.”
The team said it will return the No. 21 logo.
“We have used the field for advertising for many years. When we didn’t have sponsors coming out of Covid, we added an extra element in 2022 to honor Roberto’s legacy,” Williams added. “It’s a replica of the three rivers that honor him.
“It is a complement to many elements throughout the Ball Park that respect his legacy, including the fact that the wall is called the Roberto Clement Wall, 21 feet high and has two 21 numbers on it.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente is in Forbes Field. (Today’s Malcolm Emmons – American Sports)
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“We want to make sure the Clement family understands that we don’t intend to disrespect their father. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Clement family and apologizing to them and our fans for our honest mistakes.”
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