Baseball's Team Mascots Blame Heavy Costumes for Discontent

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ^ | Sept 2 2002 | JERRY GUIDERA

[2Trievers]

MILWAUKEE -- Dripping with sweat, 20 of the most colorful characters in baseball peeled off their rubber suits and made for the exits.

On the field, some of the game's best sluggers were still taking swings in the annual Home Run Derby prelude to the July All Star Game. Twenty-four of the Major Leagues' mascots were scheduled to entertain the crowd on the sidelines during the derby and then stick around for some post-event high jinks. But as the competition dragged on, all but a handful were wilting after hours of running around in their heavy costumes in the 90-degree heat.

[2Trievers]

Someone always seems to be squawking.

[PJ-Comix]

"Mascots are always an afterthought," says Damian Shepard, a former college mascot in his first season as Seattle's "Mariner Moose."

Not the Chicken for the San Diego Padres. He was the MAIN REASON why fans used to go to the games. BTW, did anybody here see that Simpsons episode where Homer Simpson became a team mascot? He started out in Springfield and then moved up to the bigtime in Capitol City.

[PJ-Comix]

Oops! I posted before coming to the part where the article mentioned that Chicken.

[PJ-Comix]

A Johns Hopkins University study, "Epidemiology of Professional Mascot Injuries," last year found that 42% of all mascots had suffered "an episode of heat illness."

Was this study presented with a straight face?

[PJ-Comix]

Some get paid far less and can only dream of the liberties once taken by the Chicken -- now replaced in San Diego by a watered-down, Padres-sponsored "Friar." League rules, promulgated in response to the antics of the Chicken and the Phillie Phanatic, prohibit the mascots from engaging the umpires and interfering with play.

Any wonder why baseball attendance is declining? BTW, just what does that Friar costume look like? It's kind of hard to picture a Friar as a mascot.

[Principled]

If they joined a union, they could increase ticket prices AND get air-conditioned suits.

[PJ-Comix]

"We could do whatever we wanted at the old stadium," he says. But when a fan complained that Orbit's fake fistfights with visiting mascots promoted violence, Mr. Villanueva, 34, says he was ordered by Houston's mascot coordinator to pull his punches.

I'll bet that PC fan was a Demmycrat. They ruin all the fun!

[PJ-Comix]

Milwaukee mascot coordinator Katie Newcomb concedes Bernie "is a lot more limited on his new perch." She says the beer mug was nixed, "much to the fans' disappointment," because management wanted a more "family-friendly image" at Miller Park.

Talk about hypocrisy!!! Let's see, the mascot is named "Bernie BREWER," they are playing in the Beer Capital(Milwaukee), in a place called MILLER Park and this dopey mascot coordinator says it is somehow wrong for the Beer-themed mascot to slide into a giant mug of beer? BEAM ME UP!

[cyn]

lol . . . "general lack of respect" . . . surely they're not talking about a guy in a marlin suit? -- cynic#456,789

[PJ-Comix]

As for keeping Mr. St. Pierre out of the seats, Reds owners are concerned the mascot will obscure fans' view because "he's got a big baseball on his head." says Mr. Butcher. "The game is the most important thing going on, not Mr. Red."

Translation: "Fun is no longer allowed at baseball games."

[Vinnie]

" San Diego Chicken goes out on Strike"

Claims he is not getting enough 'scratch'.

[Flashlight]

...Twenty-four of the Major Leagues' mascots were scheduled to entertain the crowd on the sidelines during the derby and then stick around for some post-event high jinks, etc....

I watched the home-run derby and noticed a bunch of mascots all standing together in one place clapping and reacting to the home runs. They looked ridiculous, like idiotic shills with no dignity.

(I mean this "seriously". If you think a guy in a chicken costume can't have much dignity, you haven't seen the San Diego Chicken. His persona was similar to Bugs Bunny, like a smart-alek kid who can get away with doing whatever he feel like, always winning in the end.)

I'm sure not blaming the mascots for doing what they're told, and I sure don't blame them for walking out.

Once again, "baseball management" is totally tone-deaf to what baseball fans want.

The fans *want* to see mascots having fun, acting up, dancing, playing tricks, and so on. I don't think anyone got any enjoyment out of seeing those mascots all just standing there, jumping up and down, and clapping.

I remember a few years ago at Tiger Stadium, during one of the breaks there was a fast-paced song playing on the PA system (could have been "Hold That Tiger").

The Tiger's mascot, "Paws", came running up the aisle, grabbed a little girl by the hand and begin jumping around and dancing to the song.

The little girl danced right along with him, laughing and having a great time. Everybody in the section started clapping along, and they got a big hand at the finish.

*That's* what mascots should be used for, and they deserve to be treated with respect - they earn it by adding so much enjoyment to the customer.

Only a damn fool would tell the mascots to stand together and jump around like idiots for hours in 90 degree heat (which is bad enough), and then expect that they would entertain the customers after that.

[tomkat]

if i'm still out there roastin' my bird/fish/etc off,
those rich bastards with the a/c'd suits oughta be coughin' up a luxury tax !

it'd be for the chillin', of course ...

[Flashlight]

ping...

any comments on this?

Also, I think I missed your take on the All-Star game's tie-finish. Unless you don't have any opinion on it. Yeah, right... :)

[Cagey]

"They should be wearing cotton."

[2Trievers]

I miss the good olde days when we lived in a saner world. &;-(

[Salo]

We have Charlie the Riverdog at our minor league games. He's great - better than the Riverdogs, usually. Thankfully, the Riverdogs are run by Mike Veeck (sp?) and he knows what fans want and how to have a good time.

[Glenn]

Thankfully, the Riverdogs are run by Mike Veeck (sp?) and he knows what fans want and how to have a good time.

Wasn't that the guy who engineered the game where attendence was ZERO? He was all over the news for a week or so. Quite the pitchman. Son of his father. Charleston, SC, right?

[Salo]

Yes to all. Bill Murray is one of the co-owners, too. He signs autographs in the stands for anyone who asks. I've never had the gumption to ask: it seems rude to me.