PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As the Pirates unveiled plaques to honor their history on General Robinson Street on Thursday, work to be done to improve their present. Pirates president Travis Williams discussed mending their relationship with you.
"Our fans come first and foremost,” Williams said. “Our relationship with our fans is really important and we know over the last couple of weeks we've had some missteps there. We fixed those mistakes and we're moving forward.”
It started with having an advertisement covering the Clemente sign on the Clemente Wall inside of PNC Park. The other hit emotionally for fans that purchased personalized bricks displayed in front of the main entrance. They removed them due to wear and tear, but unlike the other two times they had replaced them, they dumped them in a pile and cemented over where the bricks stood without notice.
Williams reiterated that they have a plan to display those messages and tributes written on the bricks in a permanent display. He said they need to take some time to put together something the fans will enjoy and add to the ballpark experience. They don’t just want to make it ‘something we slap up’.
Now it’s about earning the trust of the fan base and how they go about doing it?
"I think it's just a matter of getting back to basics,” Williams said. “Customer service and fan experience, those are things that have been our hallmark since Day 1 at PNC Park. We've obviously gotten great marks nationwide, it's the 'Best ballpark in America,' and the experience goes along with the view. We want to make sure we get back to those basics and move forward."
Williams spoke as the team, with the help of local groups and politicians, marked where the pitchers’ mound and second base stood at Three Rivers Stadium. They also put a marker to the history of the stadium. Standing five feet from the second base marker, Williams noted it’s where Robert Clemente stood, doffing his cap after his 3,000th hit.
"We've had a longstanding, great relationship with the Clemente family, I think rooted in the fact that we both want to celebrate the legacy of Roberto Clemente and what he means to Pittsburgh, not only as a player but as a humanitarian,” Williams said. “We look forward to continuing those efforts going forward."
Williams and other members of the Pirates brass met with Roberto Clemente, Junior after his reaction of ‘wow’ to the removal of Clemente’s name from the wall.
“We'll continue the conversations,” Clemente, Junior said. “I always say I was born with an eye patch. I will never change. We're in a position of strength, in terms of being able to establish, or reestablish a great relationship."