Overview
Baseball team mascots (球団マスコット, kyūdan masukotto) are mascot characters belonging to professional sports teams around the world.
In MLB
The tradition in the Major League Baseball mascot began with Mr. Met, introduced for the New York Mets when Shea Stadium opened in 1964. Although some mascots came and went over time, the popularity of mascots increased when The San Diego Chicken started independently making appearances at San Diego Padres games in 1977. Philadelphia Phillies management felt they needed a mascot similar to the Chicken, so they debuted the Phillie Phanatic in 1978.
Today, all but three major-league teams have "official" mascots (Dodgers, Yankees, and Angels). Seven team mascots – Sluggerrr (Kansas City Royals), the San Diego Chicken, the Phillie Phanatic, Mr. Met, the Oriole Bird, Slider (Cleveland Guardians), and Southpaw (Chicago White Sox) – have been inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. Several others have been nominated since the Hall's creation in 2005.
Mascots in MLB are often used to help market the team and league to young children.
Current MLB Mascot
AL East
- The Bird (Baltimore Orioles)
- Wally the Green Monster (Boston Red Sox)
- Raymond (Tampa Bay Rays)
- Ace (Toronto Blue Jays)
AL Central
- Southpaw (Chicago White Sox)
- Slider (Cleveland Guardians)
- Paws (Detroit Tigers)
- Sluggerrr (Kansas City Royals)
- T.C Bear (Minnesota Twins)
AL West
- Orbit (Houston Astros)
- Stomper (Oakland Athletics)
- Mariner Moose (Seattle Mariners)
- Captain (Texas Rangers)
NL East
- Blooper (Atlanta Braves)
- Billy the Marlin (Miami Marlins)
- Mr. and Mrs. Mets (New York Mets)
- Phillie Phanatic (Philadelphia Phillies)
- Screech (Washington Nationals)
NL Central
- Clark (Chicago Cubs)
- Mr. Redlegs (Cincinnati Reds)
- Bernie Brewer (Milwaukee Brewers)
- Pirate Parrot (Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Fredbird (St. Louis Cardinals)
NL West
- D. Baxter the Bobcat (Arizona Diamondbacks)
- Dinger (Colorado Rockies)
- Swinging Friar (San Diego Padres)
- Lou Seal (San Francisco Giants)
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