Pirates inventing new ways to infuriate fans with brick fiasco

The Pirates have almost as many controversies as wins.

The stumbling franchise is dealing with its second controversy already in this young season, this time regarding fan-paid “Bucco Bricks” disappearing outside of PNC Park.

Fans discovered “Bucco Bricks” being stored at facilities, as relayed to KDKA-TV, leaving a glaring omission outside of the downtown stadium.

The Pirates announced Tuesday their plans for a “more permanent display” for the bricks, although the franchise did not say when the bricks would return.

“Through the years, a host of environmental factors including weather and foot traffic have led to significant damage leading to multiple, full-scale replacements,” senior vice president of communications and broadcasting Brian Warecki said in a statement, per MLB.com. “This cycle of deterioration prompted our organization to look for a better way to preserve these cherished messages over the long term.

“We respect, appreciate and understand just how meaningful these messages are. We share in that feeling. We have been actively planning to develop and unveil a more permanent display for these special messages to honor the enduring support that our fans shared then and continue to share in our future.

“We look forward to sharing those details soon in celebration of our 25th season.”

It’s been a rocky start for the Pirates (4-8) both on and off the field, with this situation following previous drama regarding the team removing a Roberto Clemente logo for an alcohol advertisement.

The Pirates instituted their “Bucco Bricks” program in 1999 and this renovation marked the third time the bricks have been displaced for “wear and tear” reasons, per MLB.com.

The bricks had been removed as late as January, with the Pirates telling KDKA at the time they were looking into how to best display the bricks.

That the team’s home opener came last Friday against the Yankees without the bricks returning caught some off guard, and the photo emerging of the bricks in the recycling plant added to the confusion.

An estimated 10,000 bricks have been purchased by fans through the years.

The bricks provide a human touch to the stadium, much in the same way the Clemente logo down the right field line reminded fans of the late franchise icon.

Roberto Clemente Jr. criticized the team for its decision to remove the tribute sign to his father.

“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,” he wrote.

The team ultimately opted to return the logo.

“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 in a statement. “When we added the advertisement to the pad, 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. We will be adding the No. 21 logo back to the pad.”