Every sport has some downtime, and that’s where mascots come in to keep fans entertained. Circus performers have nothing on many of the Hall of Fame mascots on this list. Here are the 20 best sports mascots of all time.
20. Rocky: Denver Nuggets
in 2008, the Denver Nuggets mascot, Rocky, was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame (yes, there is such a thing). In 2013, Rocky was named the “Most Awesome Mascot” by Cartoon Network. To be so officially and highly decorated as a mascot is a rare thing. Rocky’s over-the-top antics got him knocked unconscious in 2013.
19. Screech/The Racing Presidents: Washington Nationals
The primary mascot for the Nationals is Screech, an eagle character who loves The Eagles and the Steve Miller song “Fly Like an Eagle.” But the other mascots of the Nationals are the Racing Presidents. These four mascots are caricatures of the nation’s four former presidents featured on Mount Rushmore: George, Tom, Abe, and Teddy.
18. Steely McBeam: Pittsburgh Steelers
While all of the other mascots on this list are well-loved, approachable, and cuddly — Steely McBeam is the opposite. He’s more of a character you love to hate, celebrated for his awfulness. McBeam is a mockable stereotype of both the city of Pittsburgh and steelworkers. He’s kind of weird, creepy, and a weirdo. All these attributes make him a one-of-a-kind mascot.
17. Iceburgh: Pittsburgh Penguins
Even though Penguins, a flightless bird, are definitely not native to Pittsburgh, a mascot named Iceburgh fits the team and the city. Let’s be honest: a penguin and the word iceberg are logically apropos for any hockey team. Iceburgh, the googly-eyed penguin, has been entertaining and delighting Pittsburgh fans since 1992.
16. Mr. Redlegs: Cincinnati Reds
In 2007, Mr. Redlegs, an exaggerated throwback to 1950s-era baseball, became an additional mascot for Cincinnati. Their “official” mascot is Mr. Red. Along with Gapper, the trio became a winning mascot trifecta. Mr. Redlegs, with his old-time persona and his trademark oversized bat, is somewhat disturbing but in a hilarious way.
15. Benny the Bull: Chicago Bulls
Benny the Bull made his debut in the 1960s. In many ways, he pioneered portions of the Mascot game. He was the first NBA mascot to “roam the sidelines.” Benny is essentially a Bulls institution. He performs at 150 events each year. His dunking performance is an incredible spectacle. Benny’s performances got him invited to dunk in London and Dubai.
14. Fredbird: St. Louis Cardinals
Fredbird is so popular with Cardinals fans he was given a “lifelong” contract with the team. Fredbird performs crowd-pleasing standards like wielding a T-shirt cannon and doing funky dances. Perhaps his signature performance that fans hope to be a part of is “beaking.” This is when Fredbird envelopes a fan’s head with his beak for photos.
13. Gorilla: Phoenix Suns
For their first 11 seasons in the franchise, the Phoenix Suns didn’t have a mascot. When Gorilla came on the scene, you could almost say he was a mascot Savior. And what an entertainer. Gorilla does trampoline acrobatic dunks through fire. In 2005, Gorilla was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.
12. Pirate Parrot: Pittsburgh Pirates
Pirate Parrot is an absolutely adorable mascot, even if his googly eyes tend to get crossed a lot. Parrot made its debut as a mascot in 1979, and the Pirates won the World Series. The team created another mascot in 2006, called Captain Jolly Roger. But in 2010, that mascot was phased out in favor of only Pirate Parrot.
11. Ragnar the Viking: Minnesota Vikings
Ragnar the Viking is a no-brainer for a team called the Vikings. He is also the only “human” mascot in professional sports. It’s easy to see why furry mascots are lovable, and human mascots tend to come off weird or creepy. Nonetheless, there’s nothing weird about Ragnar riding across the field on a big motorcycle. He’s a Viking – it works.
10. Jazz Bear: Utah Jazz
Jazz Bear has a distinctly confrontational style, which gets him noticed more than your average mascot. Yes, he still does all the typical mascot stuff, like stones, trick shots, and skits. But people remember Jazz Bear for his hijinks that create mischief and mayhem. Like “accidentally” dropping a birthday cake on fans, dumping water on a Rockets fan, and more.
9. Wally the Green Monster: Boston Red Sox
In 1997, Wally the Green Monster made his mascot debut with the Boston Red Sox. He’s made quite a name for himself, even starring in a SportsCenter commercial. In addition to a creative name, his design was literally kid-approved, and he’s hilariously comical in his funny high-waisted shorts. Green Monster has an ongoing feud with another mascot, the Phillie Phanatic.
8. Burnie: Miami Heat
Debuting during the 1988-89 season, Burnie is a fire-themed monster and perfectly-named mascot for the Miami Heat. He has made the list of “best,” “worst,” and “weirdest” mascots in sports. Burnie has a reputation for bad behavior, which has resulted in being sued multiple times, including for $1 million in 1994.
7. K.C. Wolf: Kansas City Chiefs
K.C. Wolf kind of looks more like a rat, kind of a Chuck E. Cheese look-alike. Nonetheless, K.C. Wolf is one of the most-buzzed-about mascots in professional sports. In 2006, K.C. Wolf was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame, part of its inaugural class. Wolf was hospitalized in 2013 due to a faulty bungee cord during a zip-line stunt.
6. Famous Racing Sausages: Milwaukee Brewers
At the bottom of the sixth inning and every home game of the Milwaukee Brewers, the sausage race occurs. In early 1990, the Famous Racing Sausages debuted with the Bratwurst, the Polish sausage (kielbasa), and the Italian sausage. Two other sausages joined — the Hotdog and the Chorizo. The hometown fans love them.
5. Mr. Met: New York Mets
Mr. Met made his debut in 1964. He’s one of the oldest but also most popular mascots in sports. Truth be told, Mr. Met is a bigger star than most players on the team’s roster. He’s pretty popular, too. Last August, he was profiled by Rolling Stone magazine. So, Mr. Met’s kind of a celebrity.
4. Youppi!: Montréal Canadiens
Youppi! (the exclamation mark is part of his name) has been entertaining the home crowd of the Montréal Canadiens since 2005. However, he previously was the mascot of the Montreal Expos from 1979 until the 2004 season when the team moved to Washington. Youppi! is the first mascot in history to “ever work in two professional sports leagues.”
3. The Raptor: Toronto Raptors
The Raptor is a superstar among mascots. There are countless YouTube videos featuring The Raptor. His physical displays and home-game hijinks put most other mascots to shame. His on-the-court showdown with Canadian tennis player Eugenie Bouchard became an international story. In October 2013, Raptor blew out his Achilles, but in less than six months, he was back on the court.
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2. Jaxson de Ville: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaxson de Ville is elite among mascots. His signature stunt is dangling in the sky, hanging from a cord. One slip, and he’s splat. Throughout his career, Jackson was “The Self-Proclaimed Best Mascot in Sports.” Fans agree. In 2014, Jaxson was voted the best mascot in sports, meaning he’s got fans galore beyond Jacksonville.
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1. Phanatic: Philadelphia Phillies
Phanatic isn’t the prettiest mascot to look at, nor the nicest in any sport. In fact, Phanatic is the most sued mascot in sports. Nonetheless, he is hilarious. Even though his behavior often treads in the “likely to induce a lawsuit” territory. No one can say Phanatic’s not entertaining, and that’s what the mascot game is all about.
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