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File:Phillies Phanatic.jpg

The Phillie Phanatic makes an appearance during the Phillies-Tigers Spring Training game at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, Florida on March 11, 2007.

The Phillie Phanatic is the official mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team.

Profile

A fat furry green creature with a cylindrical beak containing a tongue that sticks out, he was created by Harrison/Erickson of New York City (now known as Acme Mascots), who have had ties with Jim Henson's Muppets and the team's marketing and promotions department during the winter after the 1977 season by a young executive named Dennis Lehman, who thought that the team needed a mascot similar to San Diego's Famous Chicken. Instead of a number on the back of his uniform shirt he wears a star.

The character is named for the fanatical fans of the team after an incident during the third game of the 1977 National League Championship Series played at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium, in which fans drove Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Burt Hooton into losing his composure after he complained to umpire Bob Engel over balls and strikes (he was removed from the game, but the Dodgers went on to win the game, and ultimately, the series). Another reason he was created, according to current owner and former team vice president Bill Giles was to bring more families to The Vet, as some of the more inebriated fans were involved in various fights when the team was doing well or poorly. The Phanatic replaced a pair of siblings dressed in 18th century garb named "Philadelphia Phil and Philadelphia Phillis", who were in the team logo from 1976 through 1978, and were part of the team's "Home Run Spectacular" at The Vet from 1971 through 1979.

In his book Pouring Six Beers At A Time, Giles wrote of the worst decision of his life when it came to the creation of the Phanatic. The design would cost $5,200 (US) for both the costume and the copyright ownership, or $3,900 just for the costume with Harrison/Erickson retaining the copyright. Giles chose to just buy the costume. Five years later, when Giles and his group of investors bought the team from Ruly Carpenter, the franchise paid $250,000 to Harrison/Erickson for the copyright.

Debut

The Phanatic debuted on April 25, 1978 at The Vet when the Phils played the Chicago Cubs. Since then, he was given the title "baseball's best mascot" by sports analyst and former Phillies player Tim McCarver, who was the person who formally introduced the Phanatic on the "Captain Noah and His Magical Ark" show on WPVI-TV as he did promotional work for the team as a side from being the "designated catcher" for Steve Carlton. The Phanatic was originally portrayed by Dave Raymond, who was then working as an intern in the team's front office, for fifteen years, from 1978 to 1993. Raymond's father is retired college football hall of fame coach Harold "Tubby" Raymond at the University of Delaware. The elder Raymond was once quoted "I used to be known as the head football coach of the Fighting Blue Hens but now I will forever be known as the father of a green transvestite!" Also, the Phanatic was voted 'best mascot ever' by Sports Illustrated for Kids and Sports Illustrated.

Current Status

As of 2008, Tom Burgoyne serves as the Phanatic's "best friend". The Phanatic rides around on an ATV, being the first professional mascot to do so, on the artificial turf of The Vet, and now, with regular tires, on the grass at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillie Phanatic is one of the most popular and most easily recognized mascots in all of sports. He has a Japanese counterpart from the Hiroshima Carp named Slyly. In 2005, Raymond founded the Mascot Hall of Fame, and the Phanatic was inducted as a charter member of the Class of 2005. Burgoyne has written five children's books featuring the Phanatic that the team has published since 2003.

One week before the Phillies had their 2006 opener, the Phanatic was "dyed" red as part of the team's week-long promotion to "Paint the Town Red" as he was "dipped into a special paint" made by a team sponsor - MAB Paints - and was changed from green to red. He returned to his regular color in time for the season opener on April 3 of that year. This was repeated for the 2007 season, as he became red at a Philadelphia Fire Department station (with help from his backup, Matt Mailor in the green outfit) to help raise funds for smoke alarms in Philadelphia, and over $4,000 was raised. On April 2nd, he returned to his green hue in time for the opener. This was repeated, starting March 24th, 2008, as the theme (that season) of "Paint the Town Red Week" was volunteerism.

He appeared in the closing credits of the film Rocky Balboa (2006).

For activities leading up to the 2009 season opener against the Atlanta Braves on April 6th, there will be an assortment of 5 feet (1.5 m) tall fiberglass statues painted by artists with all monies raised going to Phillies' Charities.

Trademark pranks and activities

• He ritually taunts the visiting team, dancing provocatively in front of their dugout, and smashing or stomping on an object, such as a batting helmet, representing the team.
• Standing on the roof of the Phillies dugout, he leads the crowd in attempts to "hex" the opposing pitcher, which led to the short-lived "Whammy Hand" used in the 2007 National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies.
• Occasionally he takes pitching practice in the bullpen. This is announced on the stadium video screen.
• During pre-game practice, he has been known to steal fielders' gloves and throw them to fans.
• The Phanatic had a favorite umpire in the late Eric Gregg, and would greet him enthusiastically on the field when Gregg was in charge.

Phun Phacts

From the Phillies Marketing Department.

• Height: 6 feet (1.8 m)
• Weight: 300 pounds (140 kg) (mostly fat)
• Waistline: 90 inches (230 cm)
• "Birthplace": Galapagos Islands
• Physical Defects: Overweight, clumsy feet, extra-long beak, curled up tongue, gawking neck, slight case of body odor
• Mom: Pheobe
• Best Friend: Phyllis
• Favorite Foods: Soft pretzels, hoagies, cheesesteaks and Tastykakes
• Favorite Movie: Rocky
• Favorite Song: Motownphilly by Boyz II Men (and Take Me Out To The Ballgame, of course!)
• Most Memorable Moment: Riding down Broad Street in the 1980 World Series Championship Parade

Notable Events

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda famously assaulted the Phillie Phanatic during a nationally televised game after the Phanatic stomped on a life sized dummy donned with Lasorda's uniform.

The Phanatic also has the dubious distinction of being the most sued mascot in sports. Most notably, the Phillies had to pay a judgment of $2.5 million to a man at a paint store event when the Phanatic jumped the patron with a rough-house bear hug, sustaining him with serious back injuries.

The Phillie Phanatic's head disappeared from the Wachovia Center during the Phillies' Final Pieces charity sale and auction in 2004. Tom Burgoyne had taken off the costume for a break then found the head missing when he returned. One week later someone anonymously called a disc jockey, saying he found the head and that he would bring it to the radio station. Police arrested Bernard Bechtel, 37, of Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, after he brought the $3,000 head to the station. Bechtel was charged with felony theft.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball mascots
• Mascot Hall of Fame

References

USAToday.com > Baseball

External links

• Phanatic profile, from the official Phillies website
• From USA Today, about the donation of a Phanatic outfit to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• The Woman Behind Miss Piggy - Smithsonian Magazine, an interview with Bonnie Erickson