Roberto Clemente’s son talks Pirates removing tribute

Roberto Clemente Jr. met with Pittsburgh Pirates officials on Monday to discuss ways to honor his father’s legacy following the removal of an outfield tribute to the Baseball Hall of Famer. The tribute, a sign with Roberto Clemente’s name and No. 21, was taken down and replaced with an advertisement for an alcoholic beverage, sparking outrage among fans.

Clemente Jr. expressed his disappointment over the decision but stated that both sides were working on finding a solution to rectify the situation. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, he revealed that they were “brainstorming” ideas and hoped to have something in place in the next couple of weeks.

“We need to iron out some ideas that we have listed. I’m not going to get into the details right now,” Clemente said. “But I think we should have something in the next couple of weeks to at least really kind of tie in this new relationship with the Pirates.”

He added, “I believe that we can have a great outcome from this conversation that will benefit the fans of Clemente in Pittsburgh.”

Clemente Jr. explained that he learned about the tribute’s removal through social media and was surprised by the decision. The backlash from fans and the emotional response further highlighted the significance of honoring his father’s legacy.

The Pirates organization issued a statement, acknowledging that the removal of the tribute was an “honest mistake” and apologizing for any disrespect caused to the Clemente family and fans. They confirmed that the No. 21 logo would be reinstated on the right-field wall.

“We did not intend to disrespect the legacy of Roberto Clemente by adding the advertisement to the pad in right field,” team president Travis Williams said. “It was an oversight not to keep the No. 21 logo. This is ultimately on me, not anyone else in the organization. It was an honest mistake.”

He continued, “We want to make sure that the Clemente family understands that we intended no disrespect to their father. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Clemente family and apologize to them and our fans for our honest mistake.”

As the discussions continue between Clemente Jr. and the Pirates officials, fans are hopeful that a suitable solution will be reached to honor the legacy of Roberto Clemente. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.