At this point, you would think the Pittsburgh Pirates fans couldn’t possibly find a new way to disappoint their supporters. And yet—here they are.
On Friday, Pittsburgh fans noticed something unusual at PNC Park. A longtime right field tribute to Roberto Clemente, featuring his iconic 21 logo, had vanished. In its place was an ad for Surfside, a canned cocktail brand from Philadelphia. If your jaw hit the floor, you are not alone; every Pirates fan felt the same. And outrage spread online.
Over 4.1 million people saw the before and after photos. One of them is Clemente’s son, Roberto Clemente Jr., who was shocked and simply said, “Wow.” But he didn’t just stop here. He went ahead and issued an entire statement on this controversy.
Here is a statement from Roberto Clemente Jr. on the removal of a sign that paid tribute to his father on the right field wall. pic.twitter.com/msEJJfs8eg
— Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles) April 6, 2025
Clemente Jr. stated that his family had no idea that the tribute was being removed. They weren’t consulted or warned. And while the Pirates have since admitted that they have made a mistake, Clemente Jr. has made it clear that there was no meaningful collaboration between them. But he did thank fans for their support and said that his father’s legacy is what truly still connects with them. Clemente, though, did say he will talk with the team directly.
And honestly, it’s hard to blame him. Roberto Clemente wasn’t just a Pirate— he was the Pirates. From 1955 to 1972, he built a Hall of Fame career. He collected 3,000 hits, earned 15 All-Star nods, and won two World Series titles. But what really set him apart was all the humanitarian work he did. In fact, it cost him his life in the end. He had flown to give emergency supplies in Nicaragua in 1972.
MLB continues honors the man through the Roberto Clemente Award. This award is given to players who stand for the values the Pirates legend stood for. Meanwhile, the Pirates have struggled with a 2-7 start this time. Fans are annoyed and now angry looking at the poor decisions on the field and off it too.
Pittsburgh Pirates scramble for cover from fans wrath
Of course, as social media erupted over this fiasco, the Pittsburgh Pirates had to do something to calm the heat off them. And well, the team’s leadership put forth a defensive approach. Brian Warecki, the Pirates senior vice president of communications and broadcasting, issued a detailed statement explaining that the logo in Clemente’s honor was actually “never meant to be a permanent tribute.”
Warecki said, “Roberto Clemente is more than a Hall-of-Fame player to us. His legacy helps define who we are as an organization.” Not just that, Warecki even pointed out the other real permanent tributes that are throughout PNC Park that commemorate the legend. From the Clemente Bridge connecting downtown to the stadium to the 12-foot bronze statue to the No. 21 logos that are displayed all over the ballpark. Not to mention the artwork and the jersey displays. But still, many fans are not accepting this.
Because it’s not the quantity of tributes that is the issue. The problem is the quieter removal and a replacement by an ad— that being an alcohol one. Even the family was not informed. Although Warecki did say, “We apologize that we didn’t directly communicate that fact to the Clemente family and our fans.” In his statement, Warecki also talked about Roberto Clemente Day and their post-hurricane relief work and more.
But well, the damage seems to be high and fan frustration is over the roof. This afterall comes right after there were billboards calling for owner Bob Nutting to sell the team. So this silent removal might have struck a nerve. In a city where Clemente is more than just a baseball icon, pulling back even a single thread of his legacy is clearly bound to have consequences. Do you think they did it unintentionally? Let us know!
The post “Shocked” – Pirates Icon’s Son Slams Franchise Over Removal of Legendary Tribute for Controversial Ad appeared first on EssentiallySports.