ONEMOREINNING

THE GREAT PITTSBURGH PIEROGI RACE

      

IT STARTED IN PITTSBURGH AS A LARK, WAS FUELED BY AN ADVERTISER, AND  HAS  BECOME  A  STAPLE IN THE  PITTSBURGH AREA. OTHER TEAMS HAVE TRIED TO COPY IT BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE REFINED IT TO THE FINE ART THAT PITSBURGH HAS DEVELOPED IT INTO.

WE  OF COURSE  ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PHENOMENON KNOWN AS THE GREAT PITTSBURGH PIEROGI RACE.

IT STARTED IN 1990 AS A PROMOTION PUT ON BY THE PITTSBURGH TEAM IN THE INTERMISSION BETWEEN INNINGS OF THEIR GAMES. THE SPONSOR OF THEIR GAMES WAS MRS. T’S PIEROGIES AND IT WAS THEIR SUGGESTION TO HAVE A RACE OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS IN THE SHAPE OF PIROGIES TO LIVEN UP THE INTERMISSIONS.

INITIALLY  THE CONTESTANTS CONSISTED OF  SAUERKRAUT SAUL,  POTATO PETE, & CHESTER CHEESE.  OVER THE YEARS MANY OTHER  CONTESTANTS HAVE BEEN ADDED INCLUDING PRESIDENTS AND CELEBRITIES.

THE RACE STARTS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF PITTSBURGH AND ENDS UP WITH THE RUNNERS COMING INTO THE BALLPARK FROM RIGHT FIELD AND THEY THEN RACE TO THE VISITORS DUGOUT.

THE PRESENT DAY PIEROGIES CONSIST OF: CHEESE CHESTER, OLIVER ONION, JALAPENA HANNA, AND SAUERKRAUT SAUL.

ONCE A YEAR THEY TRAVEL TO TAKE ON THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS RACING SAUSAGES AND SO FAR THE SERIES IS TIED.

THE FANS LOVE IT AND ALL SORTS OF ITEMS HAVE GROWN UP AROUND THE CONCEPT. CHILDREN AT SOME OF THE GAMES ARE GIVEN BEAN BAGS OF THE CHARACTERS. THERE ARE COLORING BOOKS, TOYS, AND EDIBLE PIEROGIES ARE SOLD AT THE CONCESSION STANDS.

BESIDES MILWAUKEE THE PIEROGIES HAVE TRAVELED TO OTHER BASEBALL STADIUMS AS WELL.

       A SIGN OF SUCCESS….THE PIEROGIES WANT A RAISE