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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Patch

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

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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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11d 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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11d 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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12d 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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11d 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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11d 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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11d 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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11d 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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12d 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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10d ago

Pirates President Apologizes to Fans

Pittsburgh Pirates president apologizes to fans. Travis Williams says he wants to build trust with fans. Pirates have been on a losing streak for years. Manager Derek Shelton booed at opening home game against New York Yankees.. The club has replaced a tribute to beloved Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente with a Surfside ad.

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Yesterday

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.

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8d ago

Pirates Honor Roberto Clemente Debut Anniversary

Clemente made his debut on April 17, 1955, as the Pirates faced off against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Pirates would lose both games, 10-3 in the first one and 3-2 in the second one. Clemente had a solid start, with one hit in theFirst contest and two hits in theSecond contest.

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Yesterday