Clemente family upset at Pirates for sign change

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates person angered the household of Roberto Clemente by removing a motion honoring the franchise icon connected the right-field partition astatine PNC Park.

The motion featured Clemente's sanction and his No. 21. Replacing it is an advertisement for Surfside, an alcoholic drink.

The right-field partition astatine PNC Park stands 21 feet precocious successful grant of Clemente.

The Pirates said successful a connection that the sign, which had been connected the partition since 2022, was meant to beryllium a impermanent adornment. However, Roberto Clemente Jr. expressed his unhappiness Sunday successful a prepared statement.

"This alteration was made without immoderate connection oregon consultation with our family," Clemente's connection said successful part. "While we admit that the Pirates acknowledged their nonaccomplishment to pass us, it reveals a broader issue: a deficiency of meaningful collaboration betwixt the enactment and connected matters that are profoundly idiosyncratic and historically important to america and the fans.

"The outpouring of enactment from fans successful Pittsburgh and crossed the state has been overwhelming and profoundly appreciated. It is wide that our father's bequest continues to animate and unite people, not lone for his achievements connected the field, but for the integrity and compassion helium demonstrated disconnected of it.

"We person ever been unfastened to gathering a sincere and lasting concern with the Pirates, 1 grounded successful respect and shared values," the connection continued. "Our anticipation is that this infinitesimal serves arsenic an accidental for reflection, paving the mode for a much thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative narration moving forward. I mean to scope retired to the Pirates straight to research this further."

Clemente spent his full vocation with the Pirates from 1955 to 1972. He played successful 15 All-Star Games portion winning 12 Gold Glove awards, 4 batting titles and the 1966 National League MVP.

Clemente died successful a level clang disconnected the seashore of San Juan successful his autochthonal Puerto Rico connected New Year's Eve successful 1972 portion attempting to present supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame the pursuing summer.

"Roberto Clemente is much than a Hall of Fame subordinate to us," Pirates elder vice president of communications and broadcasting Brian Warecki said successful a statement. "His bequest helps specify who we are arsenic an organization. One would beryllium hard-pressed to find a franchise that pays tribute to 1 of their historically large players much than the Pittsburgh Pirates bash of Roberto Clemente, and rightfully so.

"Each and each day, we proudly grant and observe Roberto Clemente, the person, the player, and the humanitarian successful and astir our ballpark, arsenic good arsenic done our charitable endeavors. We apologize that we didn't straight pass that information to the Clemente household and our fans."