The Pirates Sunday announced that they would add logo 21 back to the right field wall to appreciate Robert Clemente in the PNC park after the franchise family expressed the unfortunate that the brand was removed for advertising.
“We did not intend to disrespect the reference of Robert Clemente by adding advertising to the pad in the right field,” President Pirates Travis Williams said in his statement.
“When we added an ad for the pad, it was supervised not to keep Logo 21. This is up to me, not anyone else in the organization. It was a sincere mistake. We will add logo 21 back to the mat.”
Williams added: “We want to make sure that the Clemente family understands that we did not intend to intend to disrespect their father. We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with Clemente’s family and apologizing to our fans for our sincere mistake.”
The brand, which has been on the wall of the right field since 2022, represented Clemente’s name and its No. 21, but was replaced by an advertisement at SurfSide, an alcoholic beverage.
The wall of the right field in the PNC park stands in honor of Clemente 21 feet.
Previously Sunday Roberto Clemente Jr. expressed his family’s disaster in a prepared statement.
“This change was made without communication or consultation with our family,” Clemente said partly. “Although we appreciate that the Pirates have acknowledged that they will not approve of us, it reveals a wider problem: lack of meaningful cooperation between the organization and the matter that is deeply personal and historically significant to us and fans.
“Pouring the support of fans in Pittsburgh and all over the country has been stunning and deeply appreciated. It is clear that our father continues to inspire and unify people, not only for his field successes, but for the integrity and compassion he has given.
“We have always been open to building a sincere and permanent partnership with Pirates, which was based on and shared values,” the statement continued. “We hope that this moment serves as an opportunity for reflection and prepares a way for more sophisticated, more transparent and cooperation forwarding. I intend to address the Pirates directly to further explore it.”
Clemente spent his career with Pirates between 1955 and 1972. He played in 15 star games and won 12 Gold Glove Awards, four launch titles and MVP National League from 1966.
Clemente died in an air accident off the coast of San Juan in his native Puerto Rico on New Year’s Eve in 1972, while trying to supply supplies to the earthquake of the desolate Nicaragua. The following summer was put into the Hall of Fame.
