EXCLUSIVE: Roberto Clemente Jr. met Monday with Pittsburgh pirates officials to discover ways to even more honor the legacy of his legendary father after the protest on the team that eliminates a tribute in the field of the field to the Hall of Fame of baseball.
The tribute was placed on the right field wall, a sign with the name of Roberto Clemente and the number 21. The fans noticed before the starter of the team of the team that the tribute was eliminated in favor of an advertisement of an alcoholic beverage.
CLICK HERE for more sports coverage at Foxnews.com
Roberto Clemente Jr., son of the Hall of Fame Roberto Clemente, sits in the shelter before a game against Baltimore’s orioles in PNC Park. (Charles Leclaire-Presswire)
Clemente’s son expressed his dismay on the decision in a statement during the weekend, but told Pak Gazette Digital that the two parties were “making a rain of ideas” on how to properly rectify the situation after having an initial conversation with the team.
“At this time, we are going to be a rain of ideas. We need to iron some ideas that we have listed. I will not go into the details at this time,” he said. “But I think we should have something in the next two weeks for at least a little link with this new relationship with pirates. And I think things happen for a reason.
“This is something that we feel really linked to the team forever. I always say that I was born with a patch in the eye and that I would die with a patch in the eye, despite the fact that I never played for the pirates, but obviously, I have been connected and it does not matter where to go, I am representing the pirates and we, as a family, have always been only the ambassadors, not only for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game but for the game.
“I really know that fans show their support and some frustration to many things that are happening. I think we can have a great result of this conversation that will benefit Clemente fans in Pittsburgh.”
Clemente said he learned about the elimination of tribute through social networks.
“I never realized that the sign had come down until later when I got home on social networks watching the publication there,” he explained. “It was very surprising to me. I was obviously surprised and my reaction was ‘Wow’. That’s all I said and I left it in that.
A crowd of the opening day observes the pirates to face the New York Yankees in PNC Park in Pittsburgh, on Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
“Little knew that I was going to catch fire and obviously there are many emotions with fans and team and some frustrations and I think that was the tail of much of the great part of the great pirate and Clemente fans, and Clemente’s fans, and they really did it, and obviously it was not an overwhelming response. And there was an announcement on the wall.”
The MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, breaks silence in Torpedo bats
The organization of the pirates said that eliminating the tribute was an “honest error.”
“We did not intend to miss Roberto Clemente’s legacy by adding the announcement to the PAD in the right field,” said team president Travis Williams, in a statement.
“When we added the ad to the pad, it was an oversight not to keep the logo No. 21. This is ultimately on me, no one in the organization. It was an honest mistake.”
The team said it would return the logo No. 21.
“We have used this area for ads for many years. When we did not have a sponsor that came out of Covid, we added an additional element in 2022 to honor Roberto’s legacy,” Williams added. “It was a replica of the three signed rivers honoring it.
“This adds to the many elements throughout the ball park that honor its legacy, including the fact that the wall is called the wall of Roberto Clemente, measures 21 feet high and has two No. 21.
Pittsburgh Pirates Outfielder Roberto Clemente in Forbes Field. (Malcolm Emmons-USA Today Sports)
“We want to make sure that the Clemente family understands that we do not intend to disrespect their father. We hope to continue our relationship with the Clemente family and apologize to them and our fans for our honest mistake.”
