Why Does Baseball Have Mascots for Their Team

With the exception of only three major league teams, the Angels, the Yankees, and the Dodgers, most baseball teams have a mascot. This mascot may not seem to have much of a purpose and according to some, the mascot is more beneficial in other sports, but there is a purpose to it. To ensure the crowd is entertained. However, many people still want to know why baseball has mascots. The answer is simple. It is a distraction between plays, something that people can enjoy seeing during downtime, and something that symbolizes the team.

The idea of a mascot in sports was started with a baseball team. Mr. Met was introduced in 1964 when Shea Stadium opened and the New York Mets were playing. It was an inanimate object, but the crowd loved it. It was soon followed others and today there is even a Mascot Hall of Fame dedicated to them.

The Hall of Fame was started in 2005, by David Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic. He was a part of the team from 1978 through 1993. The purpose of this Hall of Fame is to give credit where it is due. It honors the performers and their performances.

Some of the most loved mascots are the Phillie Phanatic, the San Diego Chicken, and, of course, Mr. Met, but they are not the only ones we hold dear. Others include Homer the Brave of the Atlanta Braves, Ace who is a Toronto Blue Jays mascot, and Bernie Brewer of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The mascot’s job is to delight the crowd. It gives teams a chance to express themselves. The mascot often dresses as something that is significant to the area they are from or the people on the team. It is said that a good mascot can make the crowd laugh and cry. Their job is to provoke the audience to feel something. Even if it is joy over a home run or a play that was well made, to irritation over a judge’s bad call. The mascot celebrates that team that they support and becomes an icon for the crowd to love.

Most mascots are fun loving creatures, but there are others who take the field with a feisty persona. Most all mascots are seen smiling and joyful, so that even their sarcasm over a missed play can be seen by the crowd as fun. That is why mascots are so loved by their fans and their teams.