Pittsburgh Pirates Apologize for Disposing Commemorative 'Bucco Bricks,' Fans Offered Replicas Amidst Controversy

The Pittsburgh Pirates have landed in hot water over their disposal of the "Bucco Bricks," according to findings from two independent investigations recently published. While the Sports and Exhibition Authority (SEA) of Pittsburgh affirms that it had taken steps to protect these commemorative bricks during a sidewalk replacement project, the Pirates organization discarded them, leaving fans feeling betrayed and ignored.

Lifelong supporters like Tom Crombie have expressed their disenchantment, one even saying it was "the first time that I really was falling out of love with the Pirates," according to a WPXI report. The 10,000 personalized bricks were not only a source of pride but also a point of connection for fans and their memories within the walls of PNC Park, and learning about their disposal decades later comes as a sharp sting.

A spokesperson for the Pirates admitted fault, stating, "The way in which we communicated and handled the replacement of those bricks was flat out wrong," and they acknowledged the obligation to rectify the situation, as WPXI detailed. The organization has initiated steps to offer a free commemorative brick to impacted fans and plans to create a new permanent display to honor the original messages from the Bucco Bricks, yet for some fans, this gesture feels too little, too late.

Amid the backlash, the independent investigation clarified that the SEA did not participate in the bricks' disposal, highlighting that the project, completed in March 2025, had the bricks removed, palletized, and shrink-wrapped before they were handed over to the Pirates, as indicated by a WTAE article, the Pirates had the option to reinstall the bricks or return them to fans but "rejected both of those options and opted instead to discard them." The blunder has undermined fan trust and raised questions about the organization's respect for its supporters' sentiments and investments.