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Roberto Clemente
The Pittsburgh Pirates are reversing course on the removal of a Roberto Clemente memorial after the family of the late Major League Baseball legend slammed the team in an open letter over the weekend.
The team’s president Travis Williams said in a statement to PEOPLE that the organization “did not intend to disrespect the legacy of Roberto Clemente” by removing an outfield wall pad dedicated to the MLB Hall of Famer. The 15-time MLB All-Star died in a 1972 plane crash while delivering relief goods after a massive earthquake struck Nicaragua.
The memorial graphic on the right field wall at PNC Park was recently removed and replaced with an alcohol advertisement, drawing the ire of both Clemente’s fans and family.
The baseball legend’s son, Roberto Clemente Jr., penned an open letter to the team on Sunday, April 6 accusing the Pirates of making the change “without any communication or consultation with our family,” according to ESPN.
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Just realized they replaced the Clemente logo on the right field wall with a Surfside ad 🥴 pic.twitter.com/Hz8qUBy6Sp
— Pittsburgh Clothing Co. (@PGHClothingCo) April 5, 2025
“While we appreciate that the Pirates acknowledged their failure to inform us, it reveals a broader issue: a lack of meaningful collaboration between the organization and on matters that are deeply personal and historically significant to us and the fans,” wrote Clemente Jr., the oldest of Clemente’s three sons.
“The outpouring of support from fans in Pittsburgh and across the country has been overwhelming and deeply appreciated. It is clear that our father’s legacy continues to inspire and unite people, not only for his achievements on the field, but for the integrity and compassion he demonstrated off of it,” Clemente Jr. added. “We have always been open to building a sincere and lasting partnership with the Pirates, one grounded in respect and shared values. Our hope is that this moment serves as an opportunity for reflection, paving the way for a more thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative relationship moving forward. I intend to reach out to the Pirates directly to explore this further.”
Williams, the current team owner, tells PEOPLE that the removal of Clemente’s memorial was an “oversight” by the organization.
“This is ultimately on me, not anyone else in the organization,” the owner says in a statement. “It was an honest mistake. We will be adding the No. 21 logo back to the pad.”
Williams adds that he and the Pirates “intended no disrespect” to Clemente or his family.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Clemente family and apologize to them and our fans for our honest mistake,” the Pirates’ owner says.
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Justin Berl/MLB Photos via Getty
Roberto Clemente’s sons Enrique, Luis and Roberto Jr. stand on the field prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Sunday, September 15, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Clemente is one of the most cherished athletes of all time. The Puerto Rican-born MLB star drew a loyal following in Pittsburgh while leading the team to two World Series championships with 3,000 hits and 240 home runs.
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But the 1966 National League MVP’s charity off the field is just as beloved as what he accomplished on the diamond. The Pirates superstar worked during the offseasons to provide support for disenfranchised children in his native Puerto Rico, where he died during the 1972 plane crash off the coast of Isla Verde.
The MLB currently honors Clemente’s legacy with “Roberto Clemente Day” every Sept. 15, as well as awarding the annual “Roberto Clemente Award” to players who best use their platforms to give back to their local communities.
Read the original article on People