Great Pierogi Race
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The Great Pittsburgh Pierogy Race N'at, commonly called the Great Pierogi Race, is an American promotion between innings during a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game that features four contestants racing in giant pierogies costumes: Jalapeño Hannah (green hat), Cheese Chester (yellow), Sauerkraut Saul (red) and Oliver Onion (purple).
Most of the race takes place as an animated sequence on the video board, showing the pierogies running through different sections of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and an announcer speaking in Pittsburghese to cover the race. The race culminates in the contestants running into the ballpark from right field, toward the visitors' dugout. Occasionally, the Pirate Parrot will influence the outcome of the race by distracting or knocking over contestants. A winner is determined and the leaderboard updated after the race. Often, a humorous disclaimer such as "No pierogies were harmed in the race" follows the leaderboard. A champion is crowned at the end of every season. The event is sponsored by Mrs. T's Pierogies.
The promotion started in 1999 at Three Rivers Stadium, then the Pirates' home park, and at the time featured only three characters: Sauerkraut Saul, Cheese Chester, and the blue-capped Potato Pete. It quickly became a fan favorite, and beanbags in the likeness of the different characters are given to children at certain ballgames as a promotion. Jalapeño Hannah was added soon after the promotion began. A year or two after the Pirates moved to PNC Park, Oliver Onion was added and Potato Pete dropped. Potato Pete is reportedly unhappy about his forced retirement, evidenced by his recurring interference with the other Pierogies' business. Some speculate Potato Pete hopes to make a comeback.
The pierogies travel once a year to Miller Park to take on the Milwaukee Brewers' racing sausages (likely the inspiration for the Pirates' version of the promotion) when the Pirates play the Brewers.
In 2008, the pierogies appeared twice at Washington DC's Nationals Park in the nightly Presidents Race. The first night, the four pierogies were chased by President Teddy, wielding a large aluminum foil fork and knife. The second night the pierogies faced off with the presidents in a relay race.
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