Roberto Clemente's son calls out disrespectful move from Pirates

The change did not sit well with Roberto Clemente Jr. He reposted the photo, simply adding a disapproving “WOW.”

Clemente played right field for the Pirates during his legendary career, and the team has always used that corner to pay tribute to him. The right field wall at PNC Park is 21 feet high in his honor, representing Clemente’s uniform number. The number has also featured prominently around the out-of-town scoreboard. It still does, but is much smaller than it was in previous iterations.

That part of the outfield wall at PNC Park has been used as ad space before. The specific logo in question had been in place since at least the 2022 season, as seen in videos from Opening Day that year. It was still present at the end of last season and can be seen in highlights from the Pirates’ home finale in 2024.

Clemente is regarded as perhaps the greatest player in franchise history, hitting .317 with 3,000 career hits. He died at 38 on Dec. 31, 1972, in a plane crash while delivering supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua.

Pirates fans have long disapproved of owner Bob Nutting and have long accused him of being unwilling to spend money on players or turn the moribund franchise around. The decision to replace a tribute to Clemente with a wall ad will only reinforce that perception among critical fans.