A Roberto Clemente logo at PNC Park appeared to be swapped out for an advertisement.
A photo posted by Roberto Clemente Jr. reveals that the location of his father’s logo has been replaced with an ad for a drink.
This alteration sparked some criticism from followers on social media platforms.
"Endorsing a soda that no one has ever heard of instead of the top player in your team's history is quite challenging to justify. It's simple to perceive this as lacking class," stated one reply.
Channel 11 contacted the Pittsburgh Pirates seeking a statement.
"The wall standing at 21 feet high, which officially carries Roberto Clemente’s name, persists in showcasing his number 21 in two distinct areas. This particular temporary wall signage was installed before the start of the 2022 season with no intention for permanence; rather, it served as yet another acknowledgment of 'The Great One.' We regret not clearly conveying this information to both the Clemente family and our supporters," stated Brian Warecki, Senior Vice President of Communications and Broadcasting for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pittsburgh Pirates additionally stressed that Clemente holds a cherished and significant place within the organization.
"Roberto Clemente isn’t just a legendary figure for us; he embodies what our organization stands for. It’s challenging to come across a team that honors such an iconic player with as much dedication as the Pittsburgh Pirates does for Roberto Clemente, which is only right. Every single day, we take pride in commemorating Roberto Clemente—the man, the athlete, and his philanthropy—both within our stadium grounds and through various charity initiatives," explained Warecki.
The Pirates additionally provided a rundown of how the organization upholds Clemente’s legacy in their statement regarding the signage alteration at the park. This encompassed the following points:
Outside PNC Park
- A bridge named after him that links Downtown to the North Shore
- The recently installed large concrete baseball alongside the riverwalk
- The retired number 21 on the riverside walkway incline heading towards Federal Street
- The 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture situated beyond our center field entrance is visible to everyone.
Throughout PNC Park
- The retired number 21 on the top section of the dashboard
- The specific design of the right-field wall, standing at an impressive height of 21 feet, was created in his honor.
- Two individual, standalone No. 21 logos on the face of the right-field wall
- Artifacts related to Clemente at our recently establishedSeason Ticket Holder hub location
- His No. 21 shirt showcased in the club area, alongside numerous other photographs.
- The recently unveiled, commissioned art piece celebrating his 3000th hit has been placed in the main concourse.
- The artwork featured throughout the Home Plate Club, press dining area, press conference room, and various sections on our lower level.
- As soon as you step into our clubhouse, a big image of Clemente along with his number greets you from the wall.
- His photos along with number 21 are showcased in our manager’s office and various player communal spaces.
- His images are displayed all around our administrative headquarters.
Through our charitable actions:
- The motivation driving Pirates Charities and its key initiatives aimed at making an impact on people’s lives.
- To make sure the team returns home each year on September 15 to celebrate his heritage, we will include our locally focused pre-game ritual, special in-game content, and display the number '21' emblem in the right outfield grass.
- Successfully lobbying Major League Baseball to permit the whole squad to sport Roberto Clemente’s number 21 across the board during the annual Roberto Clemente Day.
- The organization of our Roberto Clemente Day of Giving event where all present players and coaching staff participate in community service activities in tribute to him.
- An immediate and comprehensive initiative across the entire organization aimed at gathering essential provisions followed by direct delivery to assist the residents of Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria in 2017.
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