The St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) are introducing a new ball pig at CHS Field for the 2019 season, as Daenerys Hoggaryen has been unveiled by the team.
The Saints revealed the name of the pig, an homage to the HBO series Game of Thrones and the character Daenerys Targaryen, at their annual World’s Largest Game of Catch in Lowertown Saint Paul. The name was selected from more than 5,500 entries in the Name the Pig Contest presented by the Star Tribune at startribune.com. The submission of names were extremely creative and ran the athletes, historical figures, famous people and social media. Whether it was an ode to the Saints history with Roy HAMpanella, or those than donned Major League uniforms like Pig Sexy, Boartolo Colon, a woman that have served the highest judicial court with Ruth Bader GinsBOARg, a Jenny from the block in Jennifer LoPIG or taking a selfie and letting everyone know on #InstaHAM.
The winning entry was submitted by Ian Ramsay from Uptown in Minneapolis. Ian will receive a $50 Saints gift card, VIP Saints tickets, a photo with the pig and will escort the pig at a game.
During the previous 26 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 struck a chord with the younger generation with Porknite. The year before that they tested the political waters with Alternative Fats. In 2016 the Saints honored one of the most iconic artists with Little Red Porkette. During the first season at CHS Field the Saints paid homage to Lowertown artists they went with Pablo Pigasso. In 2014 the Saints received the Colboar bump with Stephen Colboar. The 2012 season saw two mascots for the first time: Kim Lardashian and Kris Hamphries. Past names have included Mackleboar (2014), 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.