SAN DIEGO -- Ted Giannoulas savored a mouthful of linguine with clams at his favorite restaurant, Tiramisu Trattoria, as he reflected on over 40 years of working as one of the world's most famous mascots.

A budding journalism major at San Diego State University in 1974, Giannoulas wanted to be an on-air radio talent. Wearing a chicken costume for a local radio station promotion was supposed to be his entry point into the industry, but it turned into a life-changing career.

Embroiled in a legal battle with local rock station KGB over the rights to his creation, Giannoulas put together one of the most publicized media stunts of the late 1970s. He called it the "Grand Hatching," set for June 29, 1979, at a sold-out Jack Murphy Stadium to end his chicken persona's brief absence from San Diego Padres games.

Giannoulas brokered a deal with the Major League Baseball team. The Padres paid him $1.50 a ticket above their average attendance, and by the end of the night he earned nearly $44,000 -- making him the highest-paid sports figure for a single game that year, according to Giannoulas.

Inside a giant Styrofoam egg, Giannoulas entered the stadium on top of an armored car escorted in by two California Highway Patrol motorcycles. The starting time between the Padres and the visiting Houston Astros was pushed back 30 minutes for the event.

A handful of Padres players took the egg off the roof of the car and plopped it onto the infield. One of the players pounded on the egg, a signal for Giannoulas that it was time to do his thing. The egg wobbled around the infield for a few seconds, then the San Diego Chicken broke out, arms wide open while 47,000 fans gave him a 10-minute standing ovation.