Change in course: Pirates move pierogies race from PNC Park to Clemente Bridge
Alana and Jimmy Maxey came from Austin, Texas, to PNC Park Thursday to catch a Pirates afternoon game.
They had heard about the racing pierogies as well.
“Friends and family told me about the pierogies race, so I was excited to see that,” said Alana Maxey, a huge Pittsburgh sports fan who also had tickets to Thursday’s Penguins/Flyers game at PPG Paints Arena. “I thought it was supposed to be run on the field.”
The “Great Pittsburgh Pierogy Race” normally is.
In previous years, pierogi-costumed people race around the warning track in the outfield at the end of the fifth inning. It’s a fan favorite tradition.
This year, the Pirates and their pierogies don’t have a choice.
Following Major League Baseball restrictions regarding field usage and the general proximity of players and staff, the Pirates moved the race to the Clemente Bridge.
Some fans have booed the change as it is shown on the Jumbotron, a large video display screen above the outfield.
“With fans returning to the ballpark, we felt it was important to make every effort to still have a live race,” said Brian Warecki, Pirates senior vice president for communications, via email. “We are hopeful that it will not be for the entire season and we can return to the traditional on-field race as restrictions ease.”
Fans like Alana and Jimmy Maxey aren’t happy about the move.
The new setup has the pierogi-costumed runners race about half the way along the pedestrian walkway.
The Pirate parrot and a PNC Park staff member hold the finish line tape near the famed Roberto Clemente statue outside the park.
“I would prefer to see it on the field,” said Maxey, who was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Yinzer.”
“I love Pittsburgh’s bridges, but you can see the race closer when it’s inside the ballpark,” Jimmy Maxey said.
Alana Maxey wanted to get a closer look at Cheese Chester, Sauerkraut Saul, Jalapeno Hannah, Bacon Burt and Oliver Onion.
So did John Curtis from Kittanning. He said having the race outside the park is a sour idea.
“It looks fictitious,” he said. “I need to see it live and in person.”
Ray McDougal of Upper St. Clair agreed. Wearing a New York Yankees hat, he said he is a loyal fan to the Yankees, but also a true baseball fan. He said PNC Park is a beautiful place to watch baseball — and racing pierogies.
“I am disappointed,” McDougal said. “It needs to be brought back into the ballpark.”
The Pirates website has last year’s information about the race.
On Thursday, prior to the race Pirates staff members asked a few pedestrians to cross to the other side of the bridge so they would not interfere with the competition.
As reported in a previous Tribune-Review story, the mascots are required to work 70% of the 81 home games (that’s 57) and attend at least 70% of the special event appearances.
Pierogies must be 18 or older, able to lift 40 pounds and run 215 yards in 60 seconds or less while wearing a mascot suit.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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