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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Pull off a Great Heist with Their Newest Pig

May 15, 2013 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (May 15, 2013) - The St. Paul Saints are one of the most prominent Independent League Baseball teams in the country. In searching for one of their most iconic members of the 2013 family it was only appropriate they looked towards a musician who has risen to fame without using a major record label. Fans will want to flock to the Thrift Shop, but My Oh My the Saints hope Midway Stadium Can Hold Him. The newest member of the Saints family is none other than Mackleboar.

The Saints revealed the name at the World's Largest Game of Catch Wednesday in downtown St. Paul. The name was selected out of over 600 entries in the Name the Pig Contest conducted by the Saints and the St. Paul Pioneer Press at twincities.com. The winning entry was submitted by Karen Sorensen of Minneapolis. She receives a prize pack from the Saints, along with being honored at a Saints game during the season-opening homestand May 16-19.

Mackleboar isn't worried about following in the footsteps of other notable Saints four-legged musical swine. He's already made it big and reached number 1 on the U.S. Pigboard Hot 100 Chart with his rap "Slop Shop." While Justin Bieboar made the tweens swoon and Hammy Davis Jr. was a nostalgic choice, Macleboar has used perseverance and grit, similar to the Saints, in order to reach the top of his profession. He has proven he's got the Wings to make pigs fly.

"While the Saints look forward to the Bob Dylan concert on July 10, the music of Mackleboar will get our crowd amped up each and every night during the 2013 season," said Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Derek Sharrer. "He has risen to fame with great lyrics and we are honored to have a performer of his stature follow in the hoof steps of our other great mascots."

There were many other worthy candidates that didn't get the nod such as The Great Bratsby, Dr. Squealgood, Ferris Squealer and Jimmy Falloin. For the first time in franchise history the Saints turned to social media for the final choice with Mackleboar winning in a landslide.

During the previous 20 seasons the Saints have had a pig mascot and each has had a unique name. Many of the names play on hot topics of the year, current events or local celebrities. Last season was the first time the Saints had two mascots, Kim Lardashian and Kris Hamphries. Past names have included Brat Favre (2010), Slumhog Millionaire (2009), Boarack Ohama (2008), Notorious P.I.G. - Piggy Smalls (2003) and Kevin Bacon (2001).

When the Saints moved to town in 1992, their sister team in Fort Myers was having great success with a live Golden Retriever mascot and the Saints wanted to capitalize on that success. Libby Veeck, the wife of Saints owner and President Mike Veeck, came across an interesting tidbit in a book she was reading and discovered St. Paul was known as "Pig's Eye" after Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant. Thus, the pig mascot was born.

Mackleboar made his first public appearance Wednesday and will make his first Midway Stadium appearance at the team's home opener on Thursday, May 17 for the Saints 7:05 p.m. game against the New Jersey Jackals. Tickets for all Saints regular season home games are available in person at the Saints Box Office, by phone at 651-644-6659 or online at saintsbaseball.com. Tickets for Saints regular season home games are $5 for general admission, $8 for outfield reserved and $12 for infield reserved. Tickets purchased on the Day of the Game are an additional $1 per ticket. Tickets to the July 6 and September 1 Fireworks Super Show are an additional $3. Children under the age of 14 and seniors 65 and older receive $1 off the admission price. Children under 2 that don't require a seat are free. Tickets are available by contacting the Saints ticket office at 651-644-6659 or visiting saintsbaseball.com.

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