Surprising Pirates adopt orange traffic cone as symbol of resurgence

The Pittsburgh Pirates, tied for first place in the NL Central division with an 11-7 record, are one of baseball's most pleasant surprises on the young season.

They seem to embody the city's blue-collar work ethic, in the way they play − and in the way they celebrate their success.

One of the more interesting rituals so far this season is the welder's helmet, which goes on the head of any Pirate who hits a home run when he returns to the dugout.

The connection to Pittsburgh's steel industry is fairly obvious. But another celebration the team is enjoying requires a bit more detailed explanation.

Since the beginning of the season, an orange traffic cone has been a constant presence inside the Pirates dugout. And when good things like a walk-off win happen, it's usually part of the festivities.

What's with the Pirates' 'hoist the cone' celebration?

The idea for using a traffic cone as a prop began, as many inside jokes do, by making fun of someone else's mistake.

Clothing retailer Fanatics came out with a new T-shirt this season with the Pirates logo and the cryptic phrase "Hoist the Cone" on it.

Fans were left wondering what the words meant. Was it supposed to be the Pirates' "Hoist the Colors" slogan instead? Or maybe something to do with an ice cream treat at PNC Park? No one really knew for sure.

So a couple Pirates players decided to create their own definition.

SportsNet Pittsburgh reporter Hannah Mears flagged down outfielders Billy Cook and Jake Mangum to get the inside story.

During an early-season road trip to Cincinnati, Mangum says he asked a clubhouse attendant if he could obtain a traffic cone. When one showed up, it was just a matter of figuring out what to do with it.

Cook took responsibility for it in the dugout, and the rest is history.

"If we're gonna have a cone in here, someone's gotta lift it up," Cook explained. "It's not gonna hoist itself."

Whether it's because of the traffic cone, the welder's helmet or perhaps an improved roster, the Pirates are off to an excellent start this season. And the Steel City is happy to celebrate with them.