Top Pirates Official in Florida Delivers Newest Fan at Front Gates of Stadium

Trevor Gooby, the mild-mannered director of Florida operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Bradenton Marauders, took on an entirely new role Tuesday night: He delivered the newest baseball fan at the front gates of the stadium.

This tiny fan arrived with his umbilical cord still attached. Gooby was pressed into duty, helping to deliver a baby when a pregnant woman went into labor during a "soft opening" night for fans.

"It was definitely an interesting night," Gooby said. "It's an interesting way to start spring training."

Late Tuesday night, the mother, Latisha Kirk, and her newborn son were reportedly doing fine at Manatee Memorial Hospital after the baby was born at the front gates at McKechnie Field.

Tuesday night the Pittsburgh Pirates were playing host to an event for season ticket holders, neighborhood fans and invited guests. There was no game, but the sound system was being tested, concessionaires were working out the kinks, and the mascots were trying out their newest moves.

Then a worker spotted a pregnant woman in some pain.

Gooby stepped in to make sure everything was all right when Kirk told him she thought she might be having contractions. Gooby immediately put her in a wheelchair and called 911.

As Gooby wheeled Kirk to the front gate where they were set to meet emergency responders, she told him that the baby was coming.

Gooby reassured her that there was plenty of time and that the ambulance would meet them in just a few minutes.

But Kirk insisted. They had reached the front gate and Kirk looked at Gooby. "The baby is definitely coming."

He sent a couple of staff members to get towels and gloves just in case.

"And then I looked," Gooby said. "I could see the baby's head."

Gooby, 35, has two children and was in the delivery room when his wife gave birth, but that was the extent of his training as far as labor and delivery. It seems Kirk didn't have time to be too concerned about Gooby's delivery skills.

"She pushed one time, and the baby was out," Gooby said. "We wrapped the baby up in towels. He was crying, and EMS arrived a couple of minutes later and cut the umbilical cord."

Gooby was still in shock as he inspected the field a couple of hours laters.

"This was definitely a first for us," he said. He said Kirk told him she was also surprised. She was 8 1/2-months pregnant and had walked to the stadium to join the party. She was feeling fine when she left home.

"She was just as surprised as we were," he said.

Gooby said Kirk told him what she planned on naming the baby while they were waiting for EMS to arrive, but he said he couldn't remember the name she had picked out. He said he joked with her about naming the baby after the director of Florida Operations since the baby was born at McKechnie Field.

"I told her my name is Trevor, and it makes a great name," he said.

McKechnie K'Marion Brand

The baby's parents named him McKechnie for the . Actually, the name was the idea of Joseph Brand, the baby's father.

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

"He wanted to see what all the noise was about," said Latasha 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 once she got to the field and said she was really enjoying it until the contractions became stronger.

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

But by then it was too late.  to take Kirk to the front of the stadium to await 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, who was interviewed by ESPN today, was there to catch the baby and to wrap him in towels and stay with Kirk and the baby until the ambulance arrived.

The tiny  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 Pirates' Kids Club, a Pirates hat, a Marauders' onesie, sneakers and .

McKechnie is already a star, given all of the attention he received today from televsion stations from across Tampa Bay and down to Sarasota. Kirk said she wouldn't be surprised to see the paparazzi at this point.

Because he arrived early, McKechnie, who weighs 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 .

Kirk said once McKechnie is ready to go out, one of his first outings would be to a spring training game. She also plans to take him to see Gooby.

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.

Editor's note: This story originally was published on Bradenton Patch.