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History of the Piper
Before the Piper, Hamline's athletic teams were represented by our school colors, the Red and Gray. In
the early 1920's our athletics became increasingly successful
and in 1922 a new athletic field with a stadium and track, known as New
Norton Field, was completed. As interest in the teams grew, Hamline
enlisted the St. Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch writers to help us replace
the traditional name of the Red and Gray with a new mascot.
Suggestions
came in, among them Red Sox, Red Legs, and Cardinals. But the
suggestion that caught on was The Pipers, taken from Robert Browning's
poem "The Pied Piper of Hamelin." Ever since then, The Piper has proudly
served as our mascot, bringing luck to our sports teams, school spirit
to our students, and excitement to the campus at large.
Mascot Costume Timeline
Throughout
the years, the mascot's design has changed substantially, but students
have always been eager to show their school spirit by bringing the Piper
to life.
Mascot Illustration Timeline
The graphic version of the Piper has undergone even more changes than his costumed counterpart. Below are a few examples of the illustrated Piper.