Outrageous Rugs Make It a ‘Night for Traficant’

And you thought James A. Traficant Jr.’s rug was unusual.

The minor league ballpark in this northeast Ohio city was full of tired toupees and wilted wigs Wednesday night as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers celebrated James Traficant Night.

About 150 of the 4,700 baseball fans got free admission by wearing ugly wigs or declaring themselves to be “a son of a truck driver,” the colorful ex-congressman’s favorite self-description.

Fans also took part in skits, including one in which a man dressed as an FBI agent chased a man dressed as Traficant around the field.

Traficant’s trademark shock of spiky gray hair is a toupee, jail officials revealed earlier this month after he was sentenced for corruption and taken away in handcuffs.

As if being thrown out of Congress and sentenced to eight years wasn’t bad enough, he’s not allowed to wear the rug in federal prison.

Fan Danielle Devan wore an orange jumpsuit, handcuffs and a fuzzy black-and-white hat for hair, while another fan printed bumper stickers proclaiming “Free Jim,” claiming he sold about 100 at $2 a pop.

The Cafaro family, whose company built the minor league ballpark Cafaro Field, has a more than passing interest in Traficant. J. J. Cafaro was one of the lead prosecution witnesses against him, testifying he bribed the congressman with cash and favors.

For the record, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers edged out the Jamestown (N.Y.) Jammers, 9-8.