Pirates Apologize, Will Restore Sign Honoring Roberto Clemente After Backlash from Clemente's Family, Pittsburgh Fans

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Summary

Pittsburgh Pirates Will Place Roberto Clemente No. 21 Logo Back On Right Field Wall

After baseball fans and the family of Roberto Clemente expressed outrage over the Pittsburgh Pirates’ removal of the Major League Baseball Hall of Famer’s logo from the outfield wall at the team’s stadium, the team announced that it would be restored.

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Black Enterprise

Pirates To Return Clemente Sign To PNC Park After PR Fiasco

The Pirates have made plenty of mistakes during their atrocious 3-7 start to the season, but it was an error by the team's front office that garnered the most attention over the weekend. The Bucs announced Sunday they would return the No. 21 logo honoring Roberto Clemente back to the right field wall after fans and the Clemente family voice displeasure that it had been replaced with an advertisement this season. Word of the sign's removal had drawn national attention.

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Pirates draw heat for removing Roberto Clemente tribute in right field

The Pittsburgh Pirates generated friction with fans during the team’s home opener as they were quick to point out that a tribute to Roberto Clemente was removed from the right-field wall.

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Fox News

News Results

Roberto Clemente's Son Rips Pirates After Logo Removal

Pittsburgh Clothing Co. on Twitter pointed out that the Pirates placed an advertisement on the right field wall. The tribute, on the far right of the wall, had a diamond with Clemente and his number, 21, on it. The Pirates spoke with Channel 4 news in Pittsburgh and said that the tribute was never meant as a permament one.

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8d ago

Roberto Clemente Jr. ‘shocked’ over Pirates removing tribute to dad — for an alcohol ad

The Pirates replaced a section of the right-field wall that used to include Roberto Clemente’s name and number with an ad for Surfside alcoholic beverages. The Pirates have statues of Clemente and other franchise greats around PNC Park. His photos and logo are in other places in and around the ballpark and city.

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8d ago

Clemente Jr. unhappy about Pirates removing sign honoring his Hall of Fame father at PNC Park

The sign featured Clemente’s name and his No. 21. Replacing it is an advertisement for Surfside, an alcoholic drink. The Pirates said in a statement that the sign was meant to be a temporary adornment. Roberto Clemente Jr. expressed his unhappiness on Sunday.

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9d ago

Colorado Rockies Affiliate Takes Massive Shot at Pittsburgh Pirates Over Roberto Clemente Fiasco

Pittsburgh Pirates removed the Roberto Clemente tribute sign in right field. The Hartford Yard Goats are the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Clemente was a 15-time All-Star, a 12-time Gold Glover and an MVP. He died in 1972 while on a relief mission to Nicaragua.

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8d ago

Pirates Sorry for Slighting Hall of Famer's Family

Team swapped sign honoring Roberto Clemente with an alcohol ad at PNC Park. Team president Travis Williams says "we intended no disrespect" But "it was an oversight not to keep the No. 21 logo," he says. Clemente died in a plane crash in 1972 at age 38.

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8d ago

Roberto Clemente's son makes statement on Pirates removal of PNC Park tribute

Clemente Jr. said the team removed the sign without consulting the Clemente family. The son of the Pirates star said fans have reached out to criticize the move.Pittsburgh replaced the sign on the right field wall with an advertisement for Surfside, a drink. The 21-foot-high wall that officially bears Roberto Clemente’s name continues to, and will forever, display his name.

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8d ago

Pittsburgh Pirates announce shock U-turn on Roberto Clemente sign after tearing it down in favor of a booze ad

Pittsburgh Pirates announce shock U-turn on Roberto Clemente sign after tearing it down in favor of a booze ad. Pirates president Travis Williams has released a statement apologizing to Clemente's family and fans for 'an honest mistake,' while announcing the team's intention to replace the sign.

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8d ago

Pirates will restore Roberto Clemente sign to right field wall following fan backlash at its removal

Pirates will restore a sign honoring Roberto Clemente to the right field wall. Fans took to social media to express outrage over the sign's removal. The Pirates issued a statement saying they meant no disrespect to the Clemente family. The sign was never meant to be a permanent fixture on the wall.

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9d ago

Roberto Clemente Jr. Forgives Pirates After Outfield Tribute Removal

Roberto Clemente Jr. says he met with the Pirates over the weekend. Pirates removed Clemente's No. 21 logo from the outfield wall at PNC Park. He says the two sides hashed things out and that it was an error. Pirates president Travis Williams took the blame for the mistake.

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7d ago

Pirates to bring back Roberto Clemente plaque at PNC Park after his son 'shocked' by ad replacing No. 21 sign

Roberto Clemente's son, Roberto Clemente Jr., criticized the club for the decision. The Pittsburgh Pirates have reversed course on a decision to remove a placard honoring the late Hall of Famer. The club replaced the sign with an ad for Surfside alcoholic drinks, when it was pointed out on social media.

MIDDLE

9d ago

Pirates reverse course on Roberto Clemente logo after backlash

Pittsburgh Pirates removed a sign honoring Roberto Clemente from their outfield wall. The team replaced the sign with a drink advertisement. Clemente's son said the team had not notified him of the decision. The Pirates apologized and said they did not intend to disrespect Clemente.

MIDDLE

9d ago

Pittsburgh Pirates Surrender After 4 Days Of Criticism In Roberto Clemente Logo Replacement Debacle

Pittsburgh Pirates have restored the Roberto Clemente logo in PNC Park. It had been replaced, briefly, by an alcohol ad in the 2025 MLB season. Clemente was tragically killed in a plane crash while doing humanitarian work in Nicaragua. The 3,000-hit club member helped the franchise win a pair of World Series.

MIDDLE

5d ago