CLEARWATER, Fla. — On Thursday night, Pirates president Frank Coonelly addressed hundreds of Pittsburghers at the Spirit of Lincoln Dinner, an event held by the Republican Committee of Allegheny County. While his appearance, in combination with a cameo by the Pirate Parrot, drew the ire of many local fans and politicians, Coonelly insisted that he was sticking to sports.
“I was asked to speak at an annual Spirit of Lincoln dinner hosted by the Allegheny County Republican Party months ago, and I was asked specifically to come and talk about 2018 Pittsburgh Pirates,” Coonelly told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a phone interview.