“Tribute to Pierotti’s Clowns”
A public art mosaic installation by
Susan K. Dailey.
Commissioned by the Los Alamos County Art in Public Places Board
Located in front of the Mesa Public Library in Los Alamos, New Mexico
About the Clowns…
In 1953, Lou Pierotti formed the Pierotti’s Clowns, the only 5-man fast-pitch softball team in the nation.
This team was sponsored by the Los Alamos Kiwanis Club, for the enjoyment of Los Alamos families and later became a good-will ambassador for Los Alamos and New Mexico. The Clown Team was featured in six national magazines, including the first issue of Sports Illustrated in 1954.
Competing with nine-man teams for 25 years, the Clowns won 177 games and lost only 23, and raised over two hundred thousand dollars for charity.
The Clowns never lost a game against any of the five professional teams they played, such as the Albuquerque Dukes, a Triple-A Farm Team for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The success of the five-man team was due in part to the world class athletic skills of the 5 players, the exceptional pitching of Bun Ryan, and the Clown antics created and performed by Lou Pierotti, during the regulation Softball game.
Susan worked alongside both Lou and “Bun” when installing this tribute piece.
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