| Pirate Parrot | |
|---|---|
 The Pirate Parrot in 2006 | |
| Team | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Description | Large, green parrot |
| First seen | 1979 |
| Website | Official website |
ThePirate Parrot is a costumedmascot of thePittsburgh Pirates ofMajor League Baseball. He was introduced in 1979 to boost sagging attendance numbers, and was inspired by the success ofrival mascotPhillie Phanatic, which thePhiladelphia Phillies introduced the year before.[1]
The character of aparrot was derived from the classic storyTreasure Island byRobert Louis Stevenson, most notably the one owned byLong John Silver named "Captain Flint".
The Pirates put out a casting call for highly-energetic candidates, hoping to find a comedic talent similar toRobin Williams, and selected Kevin Koch after an extensive audition day due to his disco dance skills.[2] The Parrot debuted onApril Fools' Day,1979 when he "hatched" atThree Rivers Stadium.That year, the "We Are Family" Pirates won theWorld Series.
The Pirate Parrot's initial appearance, from 1979 to 1980, was thinner and "meaner", like theSan Diego Chicken, and donned traditionalpirate garb such as a captain's hat, vest, and aJolly Roger flag. His dancing and gyrating were popular with fans, but he bothered some staff and players.[3] In one game, an older grounds crew member kicked the Pirate Parrot in the head and threw a rake at him after the character jumped on the man's back.[1]
After a year, the Parrot was redesigned to be larger and more goofy-looking. "We think fat is funny", explained the Pirates promotion director.[4] The Pirate Parrot costume became three times heavier and its new outfit was a Pirates jersey and backwards baseball cap.[3] In 1995, the Parrot was briefly paired with a secondary mascot, theBuccaneer, who was quickly dropped after its actor was arrested forskinny dipping.[5][6]
The Parrot has become a staple within thePittsburgh 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 thanSteely McBeam of thePittsburgh Steelers, and along withIceburgh of thePittsburgh Penguins serves as one of two bird-based mascots in Pittsburgh. In May 1986 the Pirate Parrot joined in the Pittsburgh section ofHands Across America.
The three Pittsburgh mascots have been known to "fight" each other. In 2008, a parodyattack ad based on the then-upcomingPresidential election was made to "attack" the Parrot, due to the Pirates then-16 consecutive losing seasons while the Penguins went on to lose in theStanley Cup Finals to theDetroit Red Wings earlier in the year.[7] (The Pens would win theStanley Cup thefollowing year.) The following year, all three mascots took part in a groundbreaking of an expansion of theNational Aviary in Pittsburgh, with Steely McBeam tossing dirt at the Parrot's feet.[8]
In some cases, the Parrot has accompanied the Pirates on road trips if the game is in close proximity to Pittsburgh. For instance, the Parrot appeared at two games for the Pirates during a weekendinterleague series against theCleveland Indians inCleveland in 2012, with the Parrot having friendly interactions with the Indians mascot,Slider, and even assisting Slider in interfering with the Indians Hot Dog Race, much like what the Parrot does with the Great Pierogi Race.[9]
According to the Parrot's biography on the Pirates official website, the Parrot hopes to eventually be inducted into theMascot Hall of Fame.[10] As of 2015, he has yet to be listed as a candidate, much less inducted.[11]
Kevin Koch (pronounced "coke") was the original Pirate Parrot for seven years after its debut in 1979, selected over 97 other applicants for his energetic nature and talented disco performance during his audition.[12][1][13] Popular among fans for his lively dancing, Koch reportedly lost 17 pounds his first season due intense physical activity and sweating.[4]
In 1985, it was discovered that Koch had been high fromcocaine during several games, and introduced players to cocaine by serving as middle man between drug dealers and players. Koch resigned that year and has expressed regret for doing cocaine and sharing it with the players.[14][15] Despite the scandal, the Pirates kept the Parrot.