The key to the Oklahoma State pitchers’ recent success is simple: They’re doing it for Harambe.
Harambe, named for the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla whose death this past summer became a viral internet meme, is the Cowboys’ King Kong action figure. Awarded after each game to the best-performing Cowboy pitcher, Harambe hangs out with OSU’s relievers during games, grasping on a chain-link fence in the bullpen.
“He gives the bullpen some good luck,” senior right-hander Tyler Buffett said. “He just hangs, Harambe-ing around.”
The Cowboys have had a recent run of success with odd inanimate objects. In 2015, the last pitcher to give up a home run had to wear a Hello Kitty backpack to and from games.