Pirates Invite Phil for First Pitch, Bring Groundhog Day Spirit

0:00It's April 30th. I'm Cory with the story, and this is MLB News Today, baseball news powered by AI. The Pittsburgh Pirates brought some Groundhog Day vibes to PNC Park on April 30th, inviting Punxutani Phil for the first pitch in their series, finale against the St. Louis Cardinals. Instead of Phil chucking the ball, one of his handlers stepped up, rocking the classic black top hat in Tuxedo while sporting a custom Phil jersey. From the team, the Pirates' parrot even joined the fun, hyping up the crowd as fans got a taste of Pennsylvania's furry forecaster way outside February. Punxutani Phil's big claim to fame is Groundhog Day, where if he sees his shadow, we brace for six more weeks of winter, but no shadow means early, spring. His inner circle handlers, always in those sharp tuxes, run the show in Punxutani, turning an old European candle mass tradition into Americas. How does weather party that inspired even Bill Murray's movie? Pirates keeping that spirit alive all season?