Roberto Clemente Jr. is not happy with the Pittsburgh Pirates after the team did away with a tribute to his late father.
The Pirates have faced criticism after it was pointed out over the weekend that they covered up a special logo at PNC Park that had previously been displayed on the right field wall in honor of Roberto Clemente. The logo has been replaced by an advertisement for Surfside, which is a brand of alcoholic beverage.
After attention was called to the change, Clemente Jr. posted a one-word message on social media expressing his disappointment in the Pirates. He has since elaborated further.
Clemente Jr. issued a lengthy statement on Sunday ripping the Pirates. He said the family was not given any advanced notice before the team covered up the logo.
“Yesterday, I was shocked to learn that the Clemente 21 sign — a tribute to my father on the right field wall at PNC Park in Pittsburgh — had been removed and replaced by an advertisement,” Clemente Jr. wrote. “This change was made without any communication or consultation with our family.
“While we appreciate that the Pirates acknowledged their failure to inform us, it reveals a broader issue: a lack of meaningful collaboration between the organization and on matters that are deeply personal and historically significant to us and the fans.
“The outpouring of support from fans in Pittsburgh and across the country has been overwhelming and deeply appreciated. It is clear that our father’s legacy continues to inspire and unite people, not only for his achievements on the field, but for the integrity and compassion he demonstrated off of it.
“We have always been open to building a sincere and lasting partnership with the Pirates, one grounded in respect and shared values. Our hope is that this moment serves as an opportunity for reflection, paving the way for a more thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative relationship moving forward. I intend to reach out to the Pirates directly to explore this further.”
My statement on the removal of the Clemente 21 tribute sign at PNC Park. pic.twitter.com/lKW2TkMrpS
— Roberto Clemente Jr (@RClementejr21) April 6, 2025
The logo that was covered up had been in place since 2022. It was still present at the conclusion of last season.
Clemente played right field for the Pirates during his legendary career. The right field wall at PNC Park is 21 feet high in his honor, representing Clemente’s uniform number.
Clemente is regarded as perhaps the greatest player in Pirates franchise history. He batted .317 for his career with 3,000 hits. Clemente died in 1972 at the age of 38 in a plane crash while he was delivering supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua.
