This September , Philadelphia introduce us to Gritty , the new mascot of their hockey team , the Flyers . A spiritual cousin to the town ’s other brightly colored case , thePhillie Phanatic , Gritty isalready belovedby his city and theinternetalike for his outrageous ( though sometimes dread ) appearing and antics . But not all mascot make their way into the core of the mass the mode Gritty has — and not all of them should . Here are eight mascot who struck out from across pro sport .
1. DANDY // NEW YORK YANKEES
A game at Yankee Stadium is ordinarily more about the business of baseball game than a fun day for the family — but starting in 1979 , a pinstriped , mustachioed , Phanatic - like creature namedDandycould be ground roaming through the stand at Yankee Stadium , in an endeavour to delight children in the crowd . His weird Big Bird body was made totally out of a furred , classic Yankees uniform and was accented with a bright orange handlebar moustache and orange hair sticking out from under his crabwise ballcap . gratuitous to say , Dandy disappeared into obscurity quickly ; by 1981 , he was pledge . In fact , in 1998 , longtime Yankees proprietor George Steinbrennerclaimedhe had " no recollection " of Dandy ’s existence .
2. BOOMER // COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
In 2010 , the Columbus NHL enfranchisement introducedBoomer the Cannon , another mustached mascot , along with their then - Modern alternative uniforms . Though Boomer was made in the image of the goal carom in the Blue Jackets arena , his drab color scheme and generally phallic appearance were off - putt to fans . After his less than leading reception , Boomer was " unceremoniously resign mid - season,“accordingtoColumbus Alive , the city ’s amusement magazine .
3. CHIEF NOC-A-HOMA // ATLANTA BRAVES
One of the longer lasting mascots on our list , and certainly the most offensive , Chief Noc - A - Homarepresented the Atlanta Braves for 20 year ( though he was first present in 1953 , when the team was in Milwaukee ) . One of the many example of exceptionable word-painting of Native Americans in professional sports , Chief was given a teepee in the sports stadium that he was meant to go forth from to perform a ceremonial dancing when the Braves would , uh , pink a home run . After difference over defrayal , the third Chief Noc - A - Homa was retired in 1986 and has n’t been view since .
4. BONNIE BREWER // MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The Milwaukee Brewers have one of the most vibrant and recognizable mascot acculturation in pro sports with theirpopular sausage raceduring the sixth frame . However , long before the sprinting meat , there was Bonnie Brewer . Bonnie , clad in lederhosen and a Brewers lid , would egress in the middle of the fifth inning to help the grounds crowd strip up the baseball diamond , sweeping each base clean . She would also give the opposing team ’s third base passenger vehicle a candy kiss on the cheek when passing . As antiquated as the role sounds now , the women who played Bonnie lovingly remember their experience . " For Pete ’s rice beer , " Anne Haines , the last adult female to play Bonnie , quippedthis year , " it get a cleaning woman on the plain ! "
5. PIERRE THE PELICAN // NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
True , Pierre still roams the stand of the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans , but not in his original form . When Pierre wasfirst introducedin October 2013 as the new mascot of the Pelicans basketball squad , he had deep , dark pupil and a red beak , presumptively gloss with the blood of his foe and target . nestling and adults alike were rightfully put off by Pierre ’s appearing , and almost like a shot the team announced that he needed " shaping surgery " to fix a " break bill . " reckon like he got an centre lift and hair dilute while he was at it , too .
6. CRAZY CRAB // SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
All of these mascots were retired , at least in part , due to their lack of popularity , but none has been as downright hated and abused as the Giants ' Crazy Crab , who only suffice one time of year in 1984 . The hate was by design , curiously enough — lover were encouraged to boo and shed objects at the Crab , and players would push him around , too . Crazy Crab ’s suit had to be delineate with a fibreglass shell to protect from actor Wayne Doba from the various nursing bottle , battery , and urine - filled balloon thrown at him . The legend Crazy Crab left is one well - known . ESPN farm a30 for 30shorton his term of office as an " anti - mascot , " and when he made a warm return in 2008 , he was greeted with sneers , jeers , and beer to the case .
7. THUNDER // GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
What did Thunder ever have to do with the warrior ? full question ! No one really knows !
Thunder ’s blue physique and lightning - beetle off head stood out as the gallant logo and mascot for the Warriors in the ' 00s before their graceful redesign and ascend to swelling . A sort of statuesque , superhero Adonis , boom wasknownfor his high - aviate stunt hoop and halftime shows in Oracle Arena . Unfortunately , he had to be get go in 2008 when the Seattle Supersonics move to Oklahoma City and renamed their team the Thunder . The Warriors have n’t had a mascot since .
8. METTLE THE MULE // NEW YORK METS
The anthropomorphic baseballs that are Mr. and Mrs. Met are quite possibly the endearing duet in the MLB . But once upon a time before the squad impress to their current Citi Field emplacement , Mettle the Mulewalked the foul line at Shea Stadium in 1979 . give his name by a buff , Mettle was meant to substantiate the " liveliness , ardor , stamina , and courage " of the New York Mets . Mettle has been forget in large part because he was a real mule , not a goofy mascot , and also , almost no one went toMetsgames during the 1979 season .
BONUS: KING CAKE BABY // NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
Apparently New Orleans is gunning to be the horror capital of the mascot world . Not to be outgo by Pierre the Pelican ’s original , frightening show , the team also introduced the King Cake Baby , a cartoonish , nightmare - inducing giant newborn mean to emulate the just fortune charm found in the traditionalMardi Gras pastry dough . Each year , King Cake Baby terrorizes NOLA during Mardi Gras ( even if he often come hold colorful king patty ) . Good luck sleeping , New Orleans !
