The
parrot character 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 Pirates put out a casting call for highly-energetic candidates, hoping to find a comedic talent similar to
Robin Williams, and selected Kevin Koch after an extensive audition day due to his disco dance skills. The Parrot debuted on
April Fools' Day,
1979 when he "hatched" at
Three Rivers Stadium.
That year, the "
We Are Family" Pirates won the
World Series. , seen with Oliver Onion and Cheese Chester The Pirate Parrot's initial appearance, from 1979 to 1980, was thinner and "meaner", like the
San Diego Chicken, and donned traditional
pirate garb such as a captain's hat, vest, and a
Jolly Roger flag. His dancing and gyrating were popular with fans, but he bothered some staff and players. 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. The Pirate Parrot costume became three times heavier and its new outfit was a Pirates jersey and backwards 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 May 1986 the Pirate Parrot joined in the Pittsburgh section of
Hands Across America. The three Pittsburgh mascots have been known to "fight" each other. In 2008, a parody
attack ad based on the then-upcoming
Presidential election was made to "attack" the Parrot, due to the Pirates then-16 consecutive losing seasons while the Penguins went on to lose in the
Stanley Cup Finals to the
Detroit Red Wings earlier in the year. (The Pens would win the
Stanley Cup the
following year.) The following year, all three mascots took part in a groundbreaking of an expansion of the
National Aviary in Pittsburgh, with Steely McBeam tossing dirt at the Parrot's feet. 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 weekend
interleague series against the
Cleveland Indians in
Cleveland in 2012, with the Parrot having friendly interactions with the Indians mascot,
Slider, and even assisting Slider in interfering with Cleveland's Hot Dog Race, much like what the Parrot does with the
Great Pierogi Race. According to the Pirates official website, the mascot hopes to eventually be inducted into the
Mascot Hall of Fame. He was nominated for the Hall of Fame in 2025, but not chosen for induction. ==Cocaine scandal==