“El día de Roberto Clemente: Los Piratas en español” (Roberto Clemente Day: Spanish-Language Pirates Broadcast)

ABOUT THIS ENTRY

In 2025, SportsNet Pittsburgh made history by airing the first live, Spanish-language broadcast of a Pirates game. The telecast honored Roberto Clemente’s lasting legacy while celebrating the Latinx culture that continues to shape baseball today. Programming included interviews with Puerto Rican baseball greats, Clemente’s son, and special segments highlighting Clemente’s Hall of Fame career and lifelong commitment to humanitarian work. The broadcast connected past and present, using Clemente’s story to recognize the cultural impact of Spanish-speaking players and fans and to expand access for the Pirates’ Spanish-speaking audience.

How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"?

The broadcast showed what authentic engagement looks like for Latinx sports fans – not through translation, but through representation. “El Día de Roberto Clemente: Los Piratas en Español” was more than a broadcast; it was a cultural homecoming that put Spanish language, Latinx identity, and Puerto Rican pride at the center of America’s pastime.

For the first time, Pittsburgh fans could hear their team’s story told entirely in Spanish, by voices who shared their heritage. That kind of authenticity fosters not just audience growth, but belonging. The broadcast became a model for how others can celebrate diversity while growing fandom.

The work sets a new benchmark: transforming heritage events into living, inclusive experiences that connect generations. While many teams "celebrate" Hispanic Heritage Month with signage or jerseys, SNP moved the industry forward by creating a permanent bridge of communication.  

Most importantly, it honored Clemente’s spirit – reminding fans everywhere that baseball’s greatest story is one of empathy, service, and shared humanity.

Objective

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and simultaneously honor one of its greatest players, MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day every year on September 15. As the first Latin American player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemente’s legacy continues to resonate throughout Hispanic and Latinx communities.

In 2025, SportsNet Pittsburgh (SNP), broadcast home of the Pirates, set out to create a celebration worthy of “The Great One,” transforming a single game into a storytelling event that transcended sports and fully celebrated the longtime Pirate right fielder.

The objective was two-fold: 

• Celebrate Clemente’s legacy. Bring his story – his athletic achievement, humanitarian impact, and cultural influence – to life for a new generation of fans. 
• Connect with a vital fan base that is foundational to baseball’s past, present, and future. Nearly 30% of MLB’s U.S. fanbase identifies as Hispanic or Latino. The initiative aligns with the Pirates’ ongoing efforts to engage Spanish-speaking fans, players, and communities, which has included employing a dedicated Spanish-language interpreter to connect with players and fans. 

Elevating Clemente’s story in both language and spirit, the network aimed to create a bridge between heritage and modern fandom – ensuring his message of dignity, empathy, and cultural pride continues to inspire. 

Strategy & Execution

On September 15, SNP delivered the first live Spanish-language Pirates broadcast – celebrating both Clemente’s legacy and the vibrant Latinx culture shaping today’s game.

SNP recruited Roberto Clemente’s son, Roberto Clemente Jr., as play-by-play announcer alongside fellow Puerto Rican legend Carlos Baerga. The network also produced live virtual segments featuring Latino baseball icons Albert Pujols, Sammy Sosa, Carlos Beltrán, Edgar Martínez, and Carlos Delgado – each a Roberto Clemente Award winner – throughout the broadcast. 

“I’m looking forward to doing it the right way for the fans of the Pirates in Spanish,” said Roberto Clemente Jr.

In addition to live game coverage, SNP aired Clemente-themed segments spotlighting his humanitarian work, interviews with Latinx players, and personal storytelling that contextualized his legacy for longtime fans and new audiences. 

The broadcast aired across Pirates territory via SNP 360 streaming app, while MLB distributed the telecast nationally and internationally, including Puerto Rico, through MLB.com. SNP also invited the MLB Network, which boasts 2.4M followers, inside the booth for the first inning. 

This broadcast addressed a longstanding demand: giving Spanish-speaking fans access to live broadcasts in their native language while honoring Latinx culture, and making Clemente’s story accessible to a diverse and modern sports audience.

Organizations

• SportsNet Pittsburgh

Links

•   Website

Credits

Fred Rihn
Coordinating Producer
SportsNet Pittsburgh

Jason Steele
Broadcast Producer
SportsNet Pittsburgh

David Koppett
Executive Producer,
NESN & SportsNet Pittsburgh