Mascots are ubiquitous to sports teams and are a firm favourite with fans. Cartoonish and weird but always entertaining, the best mascots uplift and engage with the crowd. Although there are many mascot costumes out there ranging from creepy to cute, one thing is true for all: the wearers draw in our sympathy. It’s a tough, sweat-inducing job donning a heavy conspicuous costume with little breathing space (not to mention toilet trip issues). There’s no better way to motivate a team and its fans than including custom mascot costumes in the game. As a tip of the hat to the best in the business, here are the top 10 sports mascots.
10. The Raptor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs8E_IPzBZE
The Raptor is a furry red dinosaur mascot belonging to the Toronto Raptors basketball team. Aside from headline-making on-court tennis duel with Eugenie Bouchard in 2014 (spoiler: he lost), he is regularly spotted slamming dunks on YouTube. As the best mascots do, he raises the fans spirits in times of need.
9. Fredbird
Representing the major league baseball team the St. Louis Cardinals, Fredbird is a classic bird-related mascot beloved by the team’s fans since 1979. From funky chicken dances to t-shirt cannon shenanigans, Fredbird has the mascot game on lockdown. His trademark is engulfing his fan’s head in his beak for photographs.
8. San Diego Chicken
Formerly representing the San Diego Padres, the San Diego Chicken is as iconic as mascots get. Dating back to 1974, Ted Giannoulas has donned the colourful chicken outfit for some four decades, appearing in countless television shows and children’s programmes. In fact, the San Diego Chicken acted as a catalyst introducing other mascots into Major League Baseball. From McDonald’s adverts to WWE (formerly WWF) wrestling events, the San Diego Chicken is a staple in American popular culture.
7. Jaxson De Ville
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q68VzroCzI
Jaxson De Ville is the colourful daredevil mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars American football franchise. Introduced in 1996 as an anthropomorphised yellow tiger, he has grown to take on increasingly crazy stunts and antics, including entering the stadium via zip-line and performing bungee jumps. He was once even caught dangling from his feet over the stadium in a stunt gone wrong for several minutes. Sometimes confrontational, always entertaining, Jaxson De Ville has perfected the art of the mascot.
6. Youppi!
The Montreal Canadiens’ Youppi! presides over the sidelines of the ice hockey rink. With an exclamation mark as a jersey number, Quebec has seen a variation of Youppi! for some thirty plus years, having originally followed the Montreal Expos in 1979. As the first and most beloved mascot in Canada, Youppi! made his big US break when he challenged Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show to a bet against the New York Rangers.
5. Clutch
Clutch the bear cheers for the Houston Rockets and is well-known for his adeptness for the game. Featured in many viral videos, he is also beloved for his mischief-making, famously stuffing an opponent’s face with cake. After his debut in 1995, Clutch has gone on to win many mascot awards and is a local hero in Houston.
4. K.C. Wolf
Often seen entering the stadium on a quad bike or buggy, K. C. Wolf is the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. Dan Meers has worn this mascot suit since he appeared in 1989, often being found at parades, community events and conventions.
3. Mr. Met
The New York Mets’ mascot is one of the oldest in the business, first appearing in 1964. Often a bigger draw than the players themselves, Mr. Met is a celebrity unto himself.
2. Benny the Bull
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuZt1bO8Pr8
Benny the Bull first appeared in 1969. As a mascot of the Chicago Bulls, Benny is the perfect embodiment of the team’s ethos and name. At this stage, Benny is a local Chicago institution, appearing in some 150 events every single year.
1. Phillie Phanatic
As one of the most instantly recognisable mascots out there, Phillie Phanatic has been championing the Philadelphia Phillies since 1978. Created by the mastermind behind the Muppets and Sesame Street, Jim Henson, Phillie Phanatic looks like a mutant crossbreed between Big Bird and Oscar. His greatest achievement is perhaps being immortalised in The Simpsons.
If you’re looking to make an impression at the next big game or event like these top 10 mascots, search out Stock Mascots for an appropriately fun costume.
