Pirates Are Taking Parking Cone Cheer to New Level

How the Cone Became Big for the Pirates

The cone trend started as an accident back in March, when Pirates fans noticed a shirt from Fanatics with an interesting slogan, "Hoist the Cone."

No one quite knew exactly where it came from and it seemed like a mistake on behalf of the manufacturer. Perhaps they were trying to write "Hoist the Colors", which Pirates say to put up their flag on their ship, either readying for battle or showing their support for other Pirates

The motto likely came from "The Pittsburgh Cone", which PNC Park offered Pirates fans during the 2019 season as one of the promotional foods for the season.

Fanatics was also selling another shirt that has the Pittsburgh Cone on the t-shirt, with a drawing of it on there and "The Pittsburgh Cone" right next to it.

Pirates fans then started joking around and started hoisting random traffic cones or other small cones prior to the season.

It really took off when Pirates outfielders Jake Mangum got a traffic cone into the clubhouse and then Pirates assistant clubhouse manager Nick Cook put a Pirates "P" sticker on it prior to a game vs. the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on March 30.

The Pirates would go on and win that game 8-3 and then did the same the following day, with outfielder Billy Cook hoisting the cone constantly throughout the game in the dugout.

It pairs well with the welder's mask the Pirates use after every home run, a nod to the region's steel industry and blue-collar history.

Pirates fans then started buying into the trend, bringing traffic cones of all sizes to PNC Park, wearing traffic cone hats and even dressing up in cone costumes at the games.

The Pirates players also celebrate hoisting the cone whenever they reach on base, bringing the team together, as they try and build towards a postseason berth.