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Mets New Chicken Mascot Gets A Name: "Little Jerry Seinfeld"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 24, 2012
Modified Jun 24, 2012
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 24, 2012
Modified Jun 24, 2012
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There's no denying that the Mets are having a lot of fun this season—following closer Frank Francisco comments calling the Yankees "chickens," pitcher Tim Byrdak bought an $8 live chicken in Chinatown and brought it to the clubhouse before Friday night's game as a practical joke. “I told [Francisco] the Yankees sent it over for him. He had a look of concern,” Byrdak said. "Everyone got a good chuckle out of it." Initially, the bird was called "Little Derek Jeter." But the team finally settled on naming it after the toughest cockfighting rooster on the Upper West Side: Little Jerry Seinfeld.
The name is an homage to the eighth season episode of Seinfeld when Kramer buys a rooster and names it after Jerry. Seinfeld, a huge Mets fan in real life as well as on the show, told the Post he appreciated the gesture, but “As much as I enjoy the Byrdak humor, he should be aware Little Jerry Seinfeld is no chicken.” Check out video of the Mets bird in the clubhouse below.
Unfortunately, it isn't quite feasible for the team to keep Little Jerry Seinfeld around for much longer. Instead, Byrdak will give the chicken to Farm Sanctuary (in upstate Watkins Glen) in a ceremony outside the Mets clubhouse at 6 p.m. on Sunday. "He's a very lucky bird, luckier than the rest of the market and the others who suffer," Farm Sanctuary spokesperson Meredith Turner said. "We couldn't be more thrilled. Tim contacted us and made sure this bird would be able to enjoy the life that all chickens deserve."
Tagged
baseball
chicken
little derek jeter
little jerry seinfeld
mets
mlb
sports
Yankees
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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