My season tickets are right behind the Red Sox bullpen. I watch the players play their games with the sunflower seeds, I watch their punch-it-in-rituals, I watch Papelbon’s glove. Tonight there was something new. Why is there a stuffed parrot in the Red Sox bullpen?
It’s part of the bullpen’s identity as “The Pirates of the Caribbean.” It was mentioned in a Herald article (now archived) and one or two Red Sox bloggers have referenced it as well.
Aha, here’s a good explanation. And apparently Rob Bradford is the only writer who’s really honed in on it.
From http://www.redsoxchick.com/blog/2007/8/23/arrr.html
“The short version, for those who haven’t read about it, is that the bullpen guys call the Fenway bullpen “The Black Pearl”, refer to themselves as “The Pirates of the Caribbean”, and have secret handshakes and secret names for each other (And, now, they even have a stuffed parrot in the bullpen! This I have to see!). Sounds a little sappy? Maybe. But bullpen coach Gary Tuck thinks it is wonderful, so does new addition to the bullpen Eric Gagne. The guys playing pirate in the bullpen is just another indication of how close this team is. Something we, as fans, have been looking for since 2004. “
That explains alot.
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after 3 years… Mike Timlin #50: I miss you!!!!