The Pirates have had some alumni go on to political careers. Jim Bunning and Wilmer Mizell both pitched for the Bucs in the 60s and were later elected to Congress. Former minority owner Frank E. McKinney was hand-picked by Harry S. Truman to be the DNC Chairman in 1951. And lest we forget the time Frank Coonley brought the Pirate Parrot to a dinner where the Pirates’ president made a speech for Republican congressional candidate Rick Saccone.
Awaiting Kellyanne Conway at a Lincoln Day dinner outside Pittsburgh is the Pirates mascot. Frank Coonely, the team’s president, is speaking on behalf of GOP candidate Rick Saccone too.