Phillie Phanatic
Encyclopedia
The Phillie Phanatic, is the official mascot
of the Philadelphia Phillies
Major League Baseball
team. He is a large, furry, green creature that somewhat resembles a bird from the rear view with a cylindrical beak containing a extendable tongue.
's Famous Chicken created the Phanatic with help from Harrison/Erickson of New York City (now known as Acme Mascots), which had ties with Jim Henson
's Muppets, and the team's marketing and promotions department. Instead of a number on the back of his jersey, he wears a star. The character was named for the fanatical fans of the team.
According to current owner and former team vice president Bill Giles
, the Phanatic was created to attract more families to the Phillies home, Veterans Stadium
.
The Phanatic replaced "Philadelphia Phil" and "Philadelphia Phillis", a pair of siblings dressed in 18th-century garb to invoke the city's revolutionary spirit from 1776. The pair 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. They reappeared with their replacement as the Phillies celebrated their final year at Veterans Stadium in 2003, including opening day and the final game.
The Phanatic debuted on April 25, 1978, at The Vet, when the Phils played the Chicago Cubs
. He was formally introduced to the public on the locally-produced children's show "Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
" by then-Phillies player Tim McCarver
, who was doing promotional work for the team.
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 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.
coach Harold "Tubby" Raymond.
As of 1993, Tom Burgoyne has served as the Phanatic, although in public maintains that he is only the Phanatic's "best friend" in order to retain the illusion that the Phanatic is a real creature.
. During games, the Phanatic wanders the stadium, greeting fans and humorously mocking supporters of the opposition. The Phanatic performs a number of regular routines on the field before the game and between innings. Some of these routines are:
The Phanatic's favorite umpire
was the late Eric Gregg
, a Philadelphia native, and would greet him enthusiastically on the field when Gregg was in charge. Gregg, would often play along with the Phanatic between innings, sometimes dancing with him or otherwise participating in his routines.
The Phanatic's antics are not popular with all opposition players and coaches. The Dodgers' Tommy Lasorda
in particular did not like the Phanatic's mocking of the Dodgers. In 1988, he assaulted the Phillie Phanatic during a nationally televised game after the Phanatic stomped on a life sized dummy wearing Lasorda's uniform.
His mother, Phoebe Phanatic, occasionally appears on-field with the Phanatic. He also has a younger cousin Phred who is rarely seen.
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". He was "dipped into a special paint" made by a team sponsor MAB Paints
(now Sherwin-Williams) and changed from green to red. He returned to his regular color in time for the season opener for that year. This was repeated for the 2007 season, as he became red at a Philadelphia Fire Department station to help raise funds for smoke alarms in Philadelphia, raising over $4,000. "Paint the Town Red Week" has been repeated prior to the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons.
The Phanatic also has the dubious distinction of being the most sued mascot in sports. In 2010, a woman filed suit claiming that the Phanatic injured her knee at a minor league game.
of the film Rocky Balboa
(2006).
The Phanatic appeared on the episode of the television show Jon and Kate Plus 8 titled "Baseball Game with Daddy", where Jon took Cara and all 3 boys to a Phillies game.
The Phanatic's head disappeared during the Phillies' "Final Pieces" charity sale and auction in 2004. Tom Burgoyne had taken off the costume for a break and found the head missing when he returned. One week later, someone anonymously called a local radio station claiming that he found the head and would bring it to the radio station. Police arrested charged Bernard Bechtel with felony theft after he brought the $3,000 head to the station.
In March 2009, the Phanatic appeared on The Simpsons
in the episode Gone Maggie Gone
, greeting a party of nuns disembarking from a ship at the future site of Philadelphia. In the Simpsons episode Dancin' Homer
, there is a mascot that looks similar to the Phanatic, the Capital City Goofball.
In November 2009, the Phanatic was part of a bit on The Late Show with David Letterman called "Get to Know the Phillie Phanatic."
In 2010, the Phanatic appeared in a "This is SportsCenter
" promotional advertisement with Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees
The Phanatic was mimicked in an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
" called "The World Series Defense." In the episode, Charlie's "Green Man" challenges that the "Phrenetic" (as it is referred to in the episode) should not be the only mascot for the Phillies. He is promptly put in his place by the "Phrenetic."
. In January 2008, Forbes
magazine named the Phanatic the best mascot in sports.
In 2005, David Raymond founded the Mascot Hall of Fame
, and the Phanatic was inducted as a charter member. Since 2003, Burgoyne has written seven children's books, published by the team, featuring the Phanatic.
In 2009, the Phanatic was one of several recipients of the Great Friend to Kids (GFTK) Awards, given by the Please Touch Museum
(the Children's Museum of Philadelphia).
The Phillie Phanatic, along with Youppi
! and the San Diego Chicken, are the only mascots on display at in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
in Cooperstown, NY.
In 2010, an assortment of 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, 100 pounds (45.4 kg) fiberglass statues were painted by artists and are being displayed throughout Philadelphia from April through August with all monies raised going to Phillies' Charities.
, was founded largely through the efforts of former Philadelphia 76ers
General Manager Pat Williams
. Williams introduced Stuff, a furry green dragon with similarities to the Phillie Phanatic, as the team's official mascot. When Williams staged the "birth" of Stuff at an Orlando event, the man inside the Stuff was Dave Raymond.
The Hiroshima Toyo Carp
mascot Slyly bears a resemblance to the Phanatic. Both characters were designed by Harrison/Erickson.
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team. He is a large, furry, green creature that somewhat resembles a bird from the rear view with a cylindrical beak containing a extendable tongue.
Creation
During the winter after the 1977 season, Dennis Lehman, who thought that the team needed a mascot similar to San DiegoSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
's Famous Chicken created the Phanatic with help from Harrison/Erickson of New York City (now known as Acme Mascots), which had ties with Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
's Muppets, and the team's marketing and promotions department. Instead of a number on the back of his jersey, he wears a star. The character was named for the fanatical fans of the team.
According to current owner and former team vice president Bill Giles
Bill Giles (baseball)
William Yale Giles is the chairman and part owner of Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies.-Personal:He is the son of former National League president Warren Giles...
, the Phanatic was created to attract more families to the Phillies home, Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
.
The Phanatic replaced "Philadelphia Phil" and "Philadelphia Phillis", a pair of siblings dressed in 18th-century garb to invoke the city's revolutionary spirit from 1776. The pair 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. They reappeared with their replacement as the Phillies celebrated their final year at Veterans Stadium in 2003, including opening day and the final game.
The Phanatic debuted on April 25, 1978, at The Vet, when the Phils played the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He was formally introduced to the public on the locally-produced children's show "Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
Captain Noah and His Magical Ark was a television program for children and was generally broadcast around the Philadelphia area. The series aired from 1967 to 1994. It was film and produced at the WPVI-TV, Channel 6 studios in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Captain Noah and His Magical Ark, was...
" by then-Phillies player Tim McCarver
Tim McCarver
James Timothy "Tim" McCarver is an American former Major League Baseball catcher, and a current sportscaster in residence for Fox Sports.-Playing career:...
, who was doing promotional work for the team.
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 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.
Portrayers
The Phanatic was originally portrayed by David 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 Delaware Blue Hens Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
coach Harold "Tubby" Raymond.
As of 1993, Tom Burgoyne has served as the Phanatic, although in public maintains that he is only the Phanatic's "best friend" in order to retain the illusion that the Phanatic is a real creature.
Performance
The Phanatic rides around on an ATVAll-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
. During games, the Phanatic wanders the stadium, greeting fans and humorously mocking supporters of the opposition. The Phanatic performs a number of regular routines on the field before the game and between innings. Some of these routines are:
- Taunting the visiting team by dancing provocatively in front of their dugout, mocking the actions of their players, and smashing or stomping on an object, such as a batting helmet, representing the team.
- Standing on the roof of the Phillies dugout during the bottom of the seventh inning for "The Phanatic Dance," which is consistently sponsored by Cabrini College, he leads the crowd in attempts to "hex" the opposing pitcher.
- Warming up in the bullpen.
- Shooting hot dogs into the stands using a pneumatic gun attached to his ATV.
- Visiting the various broadcast booths and committing various pranks such as pouring popcorn on the broadcasters, or serving them Philly cheesesteakCheesesteakA cheesesteak, also known as a Philadelphia cheesesteak, Philly cheesesteak, cheese steak, or steak and cheese, is a sandwich made from thinly-sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese in a long roll...
s.
The Phanatic's favorite umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
was the late Eric Gregg
Eric Gregg
Eric Eugene Gregg was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1975 to 1999...
, a Philadelphia native, and would greet him enthusiastically on the field when Gregg was in charge. Gregg, would often play along with the Phanatic between innings, sometimes dancing with him or otherwise participating in his routines.
The Phanatic's antics are not popular with all opposition players and coaches. The Dodgers' Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda
Thomas Charles Lasorda is a former Major League baseball player and manager. marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully...
in particular did not like the Phanatic's mocking of the Dodgers. In 1988, he assaulted the Phillie Phanatic during a nationally televised game after the Phanatic stomped on a life sized dummy wearing Lasorda's uniform.
His mother, Phoebe Phanatic, occasionally appears on-field with the Phanatic. He also has a younger cousin Phred who is rarely seen.
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". He was "dipped into a special paint" made by a team sponsor MAB Paints
MAB Paints
M.A.B. Paints was a regional manufacturer of architectural, commercial and industrial coatings for the professional and do-it-yourself markets. Founded in 1899 in South Philadelphia by Michael A. Bruder, M.A.B. Paints grew to over 230 stores in 17 states.-History:Since 1967, it has been run by...
(now Sherwin-Williams) and changed from green to red. He returned to his regular color in time for the season opener for that year. This was repeated for the 2007 season, as he became red at a Philadelphia Fire Department station to help raise funds for smoke alarms in Philadelphia, raising over $4,000. "Paint the Town Red Week" has been repeated prior to the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons.
The Phanatic also has the dubious distinction of being the most sued mascot in sports. In 2010, a woman filed suit claiming that the Phanatic injured her knee at a minor league game.
In popular culture
The Phanatic appeared in the closing creditsClosing credits
Closing credits or end credits are added at the end of a motion picture, television program, or video game to list the cast and crew involved in the production. They usually appear as a list of names in small type, which either flip very quickly from page to page, or move smoothly across the...
of the film Rocky Balboa
Rocky Balboa (film)
Rocky Balboa is the sixth and final film in the Rocky franchise, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, which was also written by Stallone who plays underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, is the sixth film in the Rocky series that began with the Academy Award-winning Rocky thirty years...
(2006).
The Phanatic appeared on the episode of the television show Jon and Kate Plus 8 titled "Baseball Game with Daddy", where Jon took Cara and all 3 boys to a Phillies game.
The Phanatic's head disappeared during the Phillies' "Final Pieces" charity sale and auction in 2004. Tom Burgoyne had taken off the costume for a break and found the head missing when he returned. One week later, someone anonymously called a local radio station claiming that he found the head and would bring it to the radio station. Police arrested charged Bernard Bechtel with felony theft after he brought the $3,000 head to the station.
In March 2009, the Phanatic appeared on The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
in the episode Gone Maggie Gone
Gone Maggie Gone
"Gone Maggie Gone" is the thirteenth episode of The Simpsons twentieth season. It originally aired on FOX in the United States on March 15, 2009. The episode was written by both Billy Kimball and longtime Simpsons writer Ian Maxtone-Graham, and directed by Chris Clements...
, greeting a party of nuns disembarking from a ship at the future site of Philadelphia. In the Simpsons episode Dancin' Homer
Dancin' Homer
"Dancin' Homer" is the fifth episode of The Simpsons second season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 8, 1990. In the episode, Homer fires up the crowd at a Springfield Isotopes baseball game and is chosen to be the team's new mascot. He immediately becomes a...
, there is a mascot that looks similar to the Phanatic, the Capital City Goofball.
In November 2009, the Phanatic was part of a bit on The Late Show with David Letterman called "Get to Know the Phillie Phanatic."
In 2010, the Phanatic appeared in a "This is SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
" promotional advertisement with Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees
The Phanatic was mimicked in an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American television sitcom that premiered on FX on August 4, 2005. New episodes continue to air on FX, with reruns playing on Comedy Central, general broadcast syndication, and WGN America—the first-ever cable-to-cable syndication deal for a sitcom...
" called "The World Series Defense." In the episode, Charlie's "Green Man" challenges that the "Phrenetic" (as it is referred to in the episode) should not be the only mascot for the Phillies. He is promptly put in his place by the "Phrenetic."
Honors
The Phanatic was voted "best mascot ever" by Sports Illustrated for KidsSports Illustrated for Kids
Sports Illustrated Kids is a monthly spin-off of the weekly U.S. sports magazine Sports Illustrated. SI Kids was launched in January 1989 and includes sports coverage with less vocabulary and emphasis on humor...
. In January 2008, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine named the Phanatic the best mascot in sports.
In 2005, David Raymond founded the Mascot Hall of Fame
Mascot Hall of Fame
The Mascot Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for United States sports mascots. It was founded by David Raymond, who was the original Phillie Phanatic from 1978 to 1993. It is an online-only hall, with an induction ceremony taking place each year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, and the Phanatic was inducted as a charter member. Since 2003, Burgoyne has written seven children's books, published by the team, featuring the Phanatic.
In 2009, the Phanatic was one of several recipients of the Great Friend to Kids (GFTK) Awards, given by the Please Touch Museum
Please Touch Museum
The Please Touch Museum is a children's museum located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The museum focuses on teaching children through interactive exhibits and special events, mostly aimed at children seven years old and younger.-History:...
(the Children's Museum of Philadelphia).
The Phillie Phanatic, along with Youppi
Youppi
Youppi! is the official mascot for the Montreal Canadiens and former longtime mascot of Montreal Expos .-History:...
! and the San Diego Chicken, are the only mascots on display at in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
in Cooperstown, NY.
In 2010, an assortment of 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, 100 pounds (45.4 kg) fiberglass statues were painted by artists and are being displayed throughout Philadelphia from April through August with all monies raised going to Phillies' Charities.
Relation to other mascots
In 1989, Orlando's NBA expansion team, the MagicOrlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, was founded largely through the efforts of former Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
General Manager Pat Williams
Pat Williams (NBA)
Pat Williams is a senior vice president of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, a motivational speaker and former minor league baseball player. Williams--born May 3, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--was raised in Wilmington, Delaware.-Baseball career:...
. Williams introduced Stuff, a furry green dragon with similarities to the Phillie Phanatic, as the team's official mascot. When Williams staged the "birth" of Stuff at an Orlando event, the man inside the Stuff was Dave Raymond.
The Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...
mascot Slyly bears a resemblance to the Phanatic. Both characters were designed by Harrison/Erickson.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball mascots
- Mascot Hall of FameMascot Hall of FameThe Mascot Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for United States sports mascots. It was founded by David Raymond, who was the original Phillie Phanatic from 1978 to 1993. It is an online-only hall, with an induction ceremony taking place each year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
External links
- Phanatic profile (Phillies official website)
- Brady, Erik (July 25, 2002). Call to Hall suits Phillie Phanatic just fine (about the donation of a Phanatic outfit to the Baseball Hall of Fame). USA Today. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
- The Woman Behind Miss Piggy - Smithsonian Magazine, an interview with Bonnie Erickson
- http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Easy-Phillie-Phanatic-Costume How to make a Simple Phillie Phantic Costume.