50 Moments — The San Diego Chicken was “Re-hatched” on June 29, 1979 Before a Padres Game
By Bill Center
When Ted Giannoulas first put on his famed chicken costume in 1974, he didn’t appear at Padres games.
The San Diego State student was the KGB Chicken at the beginning of his amazing run and he appeared only at events promoting the station.
But as The Chicken’s reputation grew and his antics drew national attention, there grew a legal battle between Giannoulas and the radio station as to who owned the rights to the persona. Giannoulas won after a lengthy court battle.
Giannoulas then looked for the perfect venue to re-launch his act.
The Padres provided it.
On June 29, 1979, The San Diego Chicken was “re-hatched” before the Padres-Astros game at San Diego Stadium. It was a major event. National television crews were on hand to record the event. The start of the game was pushed back a half-hour for the “re-hatching ceremony.”
Even the umpires and the California Highway Patrol joined in on the fun.
The “San Diego Chicken” entered the stadium’s playing field inside a giant Styrofoam egg that was perched atop an armored car. Highway Patrol officers provided a motorcycle escort. The motorcade then stopped in left field as Padres players approached.
A group of players lifted the egg off the roof and placed it on the ground. On cue, The San Diego Chicken emerged from the egg — staggering around for a moment as a newborn chicken might upon taking its first steps to the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The crowd went crazy. The San Diego Chicken drew a standing ovation. And the night of antics had only begun. Giannoulas had considerably expanded his stunts during his hiatus. He put on a grand show.
And it was a show that almost immediately went national. The San Diego Chicken started appearing at sports events throughout the country. His act even went international. Giannoulas became the blueprint for the thousands of other mascots that now dot the sports landscape.
During the 1980s, The San Diego Chicken even had a television show with Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench as a co-host.
The “re-hatching” allowed Giannoulas to jump-start his career and expand The Chicken into the most recognizable mascot in sports. He started spending up to 250 days a year on the road, appearing at more than 6,000 events from private parties to being the Grand Marshall at major parades.
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Top 50 Padres Moments (in chronological order):
- National League votes to expand into Montreal and San Diego (May 27, 1968)
- Padres stocked with players in National League expansion draft (Oct. 14, 1968)
- Padres win their Major League debut (April 8, 1969)
- Clay Kirby removed from a no-hitter (July 21, 1970)
- Nate Colbert’s five-homer, 13-RBI doubleheader in Atlanta (Aug. 1, 1972)
- 1973, the year San Diego nearly lost the Padres
- Ray Kroc buys the Padres (Jan. 25, 1974)
- Ray Kroc grabs the microphone during his first home game as the Padres owner (April 9, 1974)
- Randy Jones National League Cy Young Award (1976)
- Shortstop Ozzie Smith’s greatest defensive play in Padres’ history (April 20, 1978)
- Padres host 1978 All-Star Game (July 11, 1978)
- Gaylord Perry wins 1978 National League Cy Young Award
- The “re-hatching” of the San Diego Chicken (June 29, 1979)
