Famous Chicken Still Squawks Good Game

The Famous Chicken returned to roost at Jack Murphy Stadium on opening night.

Ostracized by previous Padres ownership, Ted Giannoulas made his first official appearance since 1991 at the stadium where he first honed his fowl act 21 years ago.

Dressed in an orange and yellow suit, the Famous Chicken appeared from left-center field in the middle of the second inning of Wednesday night’s season opener between the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.

Greeted by an ovation, he danced across the outfield to hug Graig Nettles, the Padres third baseman turned third-base coach.

Then it was on to put a “whammy” on the Astros, lift his leg in the direction of the dugout and catcher Scott Servais, and salute umpire Bill Rosenberry. His act even included a tussle with Barney the dinosaur - won handily by the Chicken.

The Chicken led cheers in the seats along the first-base line, then came back onto the field at the end of the inning followed by five chicks.