Baby That Pirates' Staff Helped Deliver Named After Bradenton Stadium

McKechnie K'Marion Brand came into the world to the sights and sounds of a baseball stadium preparing for spring training.

Named for the  where he was born Tuesday night while the Pittsburgh Pirates were playing host to an event for season ticket holders, the Pirates' newest fan was born about a month early.

"He wanted to see what all the noise was about," said mom Latasha Renee Kirk.

Kirk, 29, said her baby wasn't due until April 1, and so when she felt some contractions while walking over to the "soft opening" party at McKechnie Field, she thought it was just Braxton Hicks contractions and figured there was no point to going to the hospital.

"He fooled me," Kirk said. "He came out saying, 'It's April Fool's Day, Mom. I am here.'"

Because she was convinced it wasn't time for the baby, Kirk ordered a cheeseburger when she got to the field and said she was really enjoying it until the contractions got stronger.

She walked in a few circles and began some breathing exercises before telling someone she thought she might be in labor.

By then it was too late.  to take Kirk to the front of the stadium to meet an ambulance.

He kept assuring her the baby wouldn't arrive before EMS. By the time they got to the front of the stadium Kirk told Gooby it was too late, the baby was coming. She was right.

Gooby, whom ESPN interviewed today, was  and the baby until the ambulance arrived.

The tiny slugger is a newborn celebrity -- a hit on sports talk shows and healthy, to boot. Gooby visited Manatee Memorial Hospital Wednesday morning to see mom and baby.

McKechnie received a lifetime membership to the Pirate's Kids Club, a Pirates hat, a Marauders onesie, sneakers and baby supplies.

McKechnie is already a star given all of the attention that televsion stations from across Tampa Bay and down to Sarasota gave him. Kirk said she wouldn't be surprised to see the papparazzi at this point.

Because he was so early, McKechnie, who is 5-pounds-2-ounces, will have to stay in the hopital for two weeks, which won't make his two big sisters very happy. They were on the phone with Kirk Wednesday afternoon saying they were ready for her and the baby to come home.

Kirk said once he's ready to go out, one of his first outings will be to a spring training game. She also plans to take him to see Gooby, who delivered the infant.

As for his future, Kirk hopes McKechnie will be a baseball player. She said she loves the baseball stadium, the sights, the sounds and especially the food. She's already planning a first birthday celebration at the park.

This story originally published on Bradenton Patch.