1999-2008
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, though Potato Pete continues to make occasional appearances.
In previous years, the race mainly took place as an animated sequence on the video board, showing the pierogies running through different sections of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and an announcer speaking English to cover the race. The race culminated in the contestants running into the ballpark from right field, toward the visitors' dugout. Occasionally, the Pirate Parrot influenced 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. At times, the Pirates will have faster runners wear costumes of pierogies that are behind in the races in order to keep the season-long competition "close", in effect making the races somewhat fixed. The event is sponsored by Mrs. T's Pierogies.
Read more about this topic: Great Pierogi Race