George Moon was fortunate to discover the fossil that led to the Erie Moon Mammoths game at UPMC Park.
That’s also why the Erie resident caught the ceremonial first pitch from comedian John Oliver. The host of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight” was responsible for the team’s July 19 rebranding throughout its standing room-only Eastern League game against Chesapeake.
Moon, though, admitted his July 1991 discovery of the mammoth’s fossilized bones amid Lake Pleasant’s sediment if not for others’ misfortune.
The retired union laborer, 65, told what spurred him to take up scuba diving during a pregame news conference.
“I was always interested in it before I got into it,” he said. “I was at (Presque Isle State Park). Someone had a camper. They were backing their boat into the water but forgot to set the brakes. The boat, the trailer and the camper all ended up in the water. Then I watched divers bring them all out of the water.
“When I saw that, I said, ‘I’ve got to sign up for (diving) classes.”
A capacity crowd at UPMC Park acknowledges Erie resident George Moon before the honorary first pitch of the renamed Erie Moon Mammoths’ Eastern League baseball game against Chesapeake on July 19. Moon caught the pitch from HBO personality John Oliver, who initiated Erie’s temporary rebrand.
Moon unearthed more of the mammoth’s bones with the aid of other divers. They unearthed more than 80 percent of its skeleton.
The bones, which were first presented to former Gannon University professor M. Jude Kirkpatrick, are currently preserved in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.
A mammoth honor
The Erie Times-News interviewed Moon for a 2021 article around the 30th anniversary of his unexpected archeological discovery. For the most part, though, the McDowell graduate went on with his life.
Erie’s George Moon and John Oliver of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight” pose before the July 19 Eastern League baseball game between Chesapeake and the renamed Erie Moon Mammoths at UPMC Park.
Then came the first of multiple calls from “Last Week Tonight” personnel. They informed him that Oliver chose the SeaWolves for temporary rebranding.
Oliver’s contest drew nominations from roughly 40 minor league franchises.
“I don’t think John (chose Erie) because of me, but because of the mammoth,” Moon said. “But it still is coming back around to me, so I’ve really enjoyed this.
“If you bet me 34 years ago, I wouldn’t have bet this would have made any (prolonged) publicity. This is great for the Erie community, the SeaWolves and everyone around them.”
By fate, the event provided an additional homage to Moon. Erie’s Moon Mammoth uniforms were purple and white.
“Purple is my favorite color,” he said, “and my favorite number is nine. Don’t ask me why.”
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Moon Mammoths’ festivities include man who contributed to rebrand