In keeping with tradition, the St. Paul Saints (Independent; American Association) have announced a new pig mascot for this season, and his name is Little Red Porkette.
Named as a tribute to Prince and “Little Red Corvette,” Little Red Porkette will follow in the footsteps of his predecessors by becoming a fixture at Saints’ home games. In advance of his debut at CHS Field, the Saints built the hype for their newest mascot.
The Saints revealed the name at the World’s Largest Game of Catch Wednesday in downtown St. Paul. The name was selected out of a record 4,000 entries in the Name the Pig Contest presented by the Star Tribune at startribune.com. Many of the names submitted were in honor of Minnesota’s own, Prince. Three other names that stood out were Raspiggy Beret, Paisley Pork and the Mascot Formerly Known as Swine.
While the choice of Little Red Porkette tied in nicely with the ode to a Minnesota icon there were a number of formidable challengers for the 2016 name of the pig. It barely squeaked out a victory over pop star Squealena Gomez, home run sensation Boartolo Coloink and one of the most belted out songs of 2016, Hello From the Other Swine.
During the previous 23 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 the Saints honored their new Lowertown home with Pablo Pigasso. In 2014 the Saints received the Colboar bump with Stephen Colboar. In 2012 the Saints had two mascots for the first time: Kim Lardashian and Kris Hamphries. Past names have included last season’s Mackleboar, 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.
Since 1993 the Saints have received the pig from Dennis and Marilyn Hauth who handle, train, design costumes and house the pigs.
Image courtesy of the Saint Paul Saints.