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Pirates 'Hoist the Cone' Celebration, Explained: Why Pittsburgh Is Going Cone Crazy in Dugout
TL;DR
The Pittsburgh Pirates introduced a new dugout celebration involving a traffic cone after a rough start to the season, which coincided with a two-game winning streak against the Reds. This celebration reflects the team's blue-collar identity and has quickly gained popularity among fans.
Nick Yorke and Jake Mangum
Pirates 'Hoist the Cone' Celebration, Explained: Why Pittsburgh Is Going Cone Crazy in Dugout originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After Brandon Lowe hit the first home run of the 2026 MLB season, the Pirates brought out a welding helmet, revealing a new celebration that pays homage to Pittsburgh's blue-collar roots. It might not be their most famous celebration this season, though.
After a 1-3 start, the Pirates brought a traffic cone into the dugout. They then defeated the Reds in two straight games, so the cone made its way back to Pittsburgh.
Whether it's a home run or a well-timed single, the orange cone has become a signal that things are moving in the right direction for the Bucs.
So, the obvious question: Why are the Pirates hoisting the cone so much this season?
Pirates 'Hoist the Cone' celebration, explained
The phenomenon began in mid-March when Fanatics released a Pirates T-shirt that likely should have featured the "Hoist the Colors" slogan. Instead, the shirt said, "Hoist the Cone," a blunder that created confusion among fans and led to plenty of humorous posts on social media.
Rather than ignoring the error, the team brought the meme to life during a series against the Reds. Jake Mangum asked a Great American Ball Park employee if it would be possible to obtain a traffic cone, and after a cone was brought to the dugout, Billy Cook accepted the hoisting responsibilities.
"If we're gonna have a cone in here, someone's gotta lift it up," Cook told SportsNet Pittsburgh's Hannah Mears. "It's not gonna hoist itself."
The cone made its debut during a March 31 win against the Reds. The next day, Pittsburgh got five dominant innings from Paul Skenes and secured back-to-back victories.
Entering the final week of March, the Pirates had plenty of traffic on the bases, but they were failing to bring runners home. Mangum and his teammates joked that the cone was needed to guide players toward the plate.
"A big thing of this is just to stay loose and have fun with the guys," Mangum said. "This is a tough game. It'll wear you down a lot. We're all perfectionists trying to play a game of failure.
"Anything we can do to keep the dugout light, keep everyone in a good mood... we've gotta do it. We got a lot of ball left, so let's have some fun."
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Q&A
What is the significance of the traffic cone celebration for the Pittsburgh Pirates?
The traffic cone celebration symbolizes the Pirates' blue-collar roots and has become a fun ritual after their recent victories.
How did the Pirates perform after introducing the traffic cone celebration?
After bringing the traffic cone into the dugout, the Pirates won two consecutive games against the Reds.
Who hit the first home run of the 2026 MLB season for the Pirates?
Brandon Lowe hit the first home run of the 2026 MLB season for the Pirates, prompting the introduction of a welding helmet celebration.
