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.
Source: Eric D. Williams, ESPN.com