Major League Baseball Mascots
Professional Mascots Add to Game Atmosphere
You’ll see it at every level of professional baseball, getting cheers from the crowd when the home team is hopeless, when the seventh inning calls for a stretch, and when the kids need something to occupy their attention from your refusal to buy cotton candy.
When it’s time for the wave, bring in the Gapper. Mr. Red’s sidekick in Cincinnati isn’t alone.
It may be an animal, an identity, or something furry (no, not the 40-year-old beer gut guy who forgot his shirt).
Coming Up Big for the Team
For Chicago White Sox’s Southpaw, named for his residence in Chicago’s Southside, getting the crowd going is just “its” way of coming up big for the team. Prior to game time, a “well-balanced meal” and proper stretching mechanics are necessary.
“Before each game I check my e-mail. I’m so excited the White Sox gave me my own e-mail account! A lot of emails get sent to me at Southpaw@chisox.com, and I gladly respond to each of them personally,” Southpaw said. “Don’t worry. I don’t send out any spam. I also sit in my locker room and stretch for about 15 minutes. I don’t want to hurt myself during the game!
“And for about 45 minutes before the game I spend time outside of the gates greeting the fans! I’ve been known to take the security guards’ bicycles and ride them around the lots. Since I’m movin’ and shakin’ the entire game, I can get dehydrated, so I drink a lot of Gatorade and water.
About two hours before game time I eat a big meal. It usually consists of potatoes. I also like to eat the ballpark hotdogs and nachos, but I try to eat healthy most of the time!”
Match the Mascot with the Team
Here’s a quick test. See if you can match the mascot with the team.
1.) Junction Jack
2.) Slider
3.) Raymond
4.) TC
5.) Paws
If you connected Jack with the Astros, you are correct. Slider shares the bench with Cleveland. Raymond is with American League East Division Champs Tamp Bay. TC calls the Metrodome home and the Twins his teammates. And Paws, he’s taking orders in Detroit.
Websites have Kids Section
Each team’s site links to a “Kids” section, where you’ll find a link to the mascot information. The Oakland A’s, for example, introduced Stomper the Elephant in 1997. Weighing in at one ton, not even Houston Street’s fastball will push this giant out of the batter’s box..
Back in 1978, Philadelphia’s Phillies introduced The Phanatic, a furry green mascot named the best of them all by USA Today.
Mr. Met, born in 1962 to New York’s other team, debuted in the majors in 1964.
Red Sox Nation welcomed Wally the Green Monster in 1997. (Green seems to be a theme!)
Where else can you dance in front of thousands of people, and no one knows who you are?
Southpaw has its own ways of turning spectators into participants.
“I have to admit, I’m not the best dancer. I’ll never pretend to be a good dancer, but the crowd loves it when I do the robot or the running man,” the fury green Chicagoan said.
“The ladies laugh when I sit on their lap or give ‘em a big kiss. They love that!”
Mascots Maintain Anonymity
For image reasons, Southpaw is not allowed to reveal its true identity. After all, the men and women who suit up in costumes are viable members of the team. They are in high demand for birthday parties and serve as community liaisons. They are always on duty and prepared for anything.
“I spent a lot of time with the coaches at the Chicago White Sox Training Academy,” Southpaw said. “They taught me how to bat left and right handed! I prefer batting as a righty so I can save my left arm for throwing.”
Always ready to play.
Nearly 30 of MLBA teams have mascots.
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Mascots keep the crowd on its toes.
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