Pirate Parrot
Encyclopedia
The Pirate Parrot is a costumed mascot of the Pittsburgh Pirates
of Major League Baseball
. He was introduced in 1979 in response to the popularity of the Phillie Phanatic
introduced one year earlier, as the Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies
had a fierce intrastate rivalry
at the time.
The character of a parrot
was derived from the classic story Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson
, most notably the one owned by Long John Silver
named "Captain Flint
".
The Parrot debuted in 1979
when he "hatched" at Three Rivers Stadium
. That year
, the "We Are Family
" Bucs went on to win the World Series
, with the Parrot serving as somewhat of a cheerleader to the crowd along the way.
His initial appearance bore more resemblance to The San Diego Chicken
, being thinner and "meaner". He wore more pirate
-related items such as a captain's hat and vest, and often waved a Jolly Roger
around on a flag pole. After the Pittsburgh drug trials
of 1985 (see below), the Parrot was redesigned to his current appearance, gaining weight and making him more goofy-looking in order for him to appeal to children more. In addition, he dropped the traditional pirate garb in favor of wearing a Pirates jersey and baseball cap.
The Parrot has become a staple within the Pittsburgh region, often appearing at events and Pirates team functions. He often appears in ads for the team on television. He has been embraced more in Pittsburgh among older fans than Steely McBeam of the Pittsburgh Steelers
, and along with Iceburgh of the Pittsburgh Penguins
serves as one of two bird-based mascots in Pittsburgh.
In recent years, the Parrot has been involved in the Great Pierogi Race, often influencing the outcomes of those races. Despite the Pirates introducing the pierogi racers and Captain Jolly Roger, the Parrot remains the team's primary mascot.
According to the Parrot's biography on the Pirates official website, the Parrot hopes to eventually be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame
. As of 2011, he has yet to be listed as a candidate, much less inducted.
during several games as the Pirate Parrot, and was later discovered to be the "middle man" between players and drug dealers, introducing them to cocaine. The trials proved to be an embarrassment to baseball. Koch, who has lived a private life since, has shown regret for doing cocaine and introducing it to the players. Despite the embarrassment to the scandal, the Pirates kept the Parrot, although Koch himself was fired.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He was introduced in 1979 in response to the popularity of the Phillie Phanatic
Phillie Phanatic
The Phillie Phanatic, is the official mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team. He is a large, furry, green creature that somewhat resembles a bird from the rear view with a cylindrical beak containing a extendable tongue.-Creation:...
introduced one year earlier, as the Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
had a fierce intrastate rivalry
Phillies–Pirates rivalry
The rivalry between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball was considered by some to be one of the best rivalries in the National League...
at the time.
History
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
was derived from the classic story Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "pirates and buried gold". First published as a book on May 23, 1883, it was originally serialized in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881–82 under the title Treasure Island; or, the...
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
, most notably the one owned by Long John Silver
Long John Silver
Long John Silver is a fictional character and the primary antagonist of the novel Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. Silver is also known by the nicknames "Barbecue" and the "Sea-Cook".- Profile :...
named "Captain Flint
Captain Flint
Captain J. Flint was the fictional captain of a pirate ship, the Walrus, in the novel Treasure Island of the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson...
".
The Parrot debuted in 1979
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates had 98 wins and 64 losses and captured the National League East Division title by two games over the Montreal Expos. The Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds to win their ninth National League title, and the Baltimore Orioles to win their fifth World Series title - and also...
when he "hatched" at Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
. That year
1979 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Baltimore Orioles ; Willie Stargell, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: None.*National League Championship Series MVP: Willie Stargell...
, the "We Are Family
We Are Family (song)
"We Are Family" is a 1979 dance hit song by Sister Sledge, composed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. Rodgers and Edwards offered the song to Atlantic Records; although the record label initially declined, the track was released as a single from the album of the same name and quickly began to...
" Bucs went on to win the World Series
1979 World Series
The 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates against the American League's Baltimore Orioles , with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games...
, with the Parrot serving as somewhat of a cheerleader to the crowd along the way.
His initial appearance bore more resemblance to The San Diego Chicken
The San Diego Chicken
The San Diego Chicken, also known as The Famous Chicken, the KGB Chicken or just The Chicken, is an advertising mascot played by Ted Giannoulas, which originated as an animated TV commercial for KGB-FM Radio in San Diego...
, being thinner and "meaner". He wore more pirate
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
-related items such as a captain's hat and vest, and often waved a Jolly Roger
Jolly Roger
The Jolly Roger is any of various flags flown to identify a ship's crew as pirates. The flag most commonly identified as the Jolly Roger today is the skull and crossbones, a flag consisting of a human skull above two long bones set in an x-mark arrangement on a black field. This design was used by...
around on a flag pole. After the Pittsburgh drug trials
Pittsburgh drug trials
The Pittsburgh drug trials of 1985 were the catalyst for a baseball-related cocaine scandal which resulted in the harshest Major League Baseball penalties since the Black Sox scandal of 1919...
of 1985 (see below), the Parrot was redesigned to his current appearance, gaining weight and making him more goofy-looking in order for him to appeal to children more. In addition, he dropped the traditional pirate garb in favor of wearing a Pirates jersey and baseball cap.
The Parrot has become a staple within the Pittsburgh region, often appearing at events and Pirates team functions. He often appears in ads for the team on television. He has been embraced more in Pittsburgh among older fans than Steely McBeam of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, and along with Iceburgh of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
serves as one of two bird-based mascots in Pittsburgh.
In recent years, the Parrot has been involved in the Great Pierogi Race, often influencing the outcomes of those races. Despite the Pirates introducing the pierogi racers and Captain Jolly Roger, the Parrot remains the team's primary mascot.
According to the Parrot's biography on the Pirates official website, the Parrot hopes to eventually be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame
Mascot Hall of Fame
The Mascot Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for United States sports mascots. It was founded by David Raymond, who was the original Phillie Phanatic from 1978 to 1993. It is an online-only hall, with an induction ceremony taking place each year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. As of 2011, he has yet to be listed as a candidate, much less inducted.
Impact on the Pittsburgh drug trials
Kevin Koch, the original portrayer of the Pirate Parrot, was later discovered to be high from cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
during several games as the Pirate Parrot, and was later discovered to be the "middle man" between players and drug dealers, introducing them to cocaine. The trials proved to be an embarrassment to baseball. Koch, who has lived a private life since, has shown regret for doing cocaine and introducing it to the players. Despite the embarrassment to the scandal, the Pirates kept the Parrot, although Koch himself was fired.