MLB: Top five mascots

Mascots are one of the most iconic parts of sports bringing a little silliness and playfulness to a game that not only teams, but fans take very seriously.

For a lot of people, mascots are the way that kids get into a game. A memory or a picture with a mascot could be the start of a young fan’s loyalty to a team for the rest of their life.

I will be ranking the top five mascots in the MLB. For a little bit of background, I wanted to go based off of the mascot itself, what they represent for the team, and how iconic they are in the league.

5. Dinger- Colorado Rockies

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

This is going to be a little bit of a controversial pick going into the five spot, but my first criteria is the mascot itself, and a dinosaur is a really cool mascot to have.

He was chosen as the mascot because there were triceratops bones found while they were building Coors Field. How else can you represent a team with no clear mascot like the Cubs, whose mascot is clearly going to be a bear.

While he is not the most iconic in the league, he is a staple for Rockies fans and makes a great mascot overall.

4. Sluggerrr- Kansas City Royals

MLB

Sluggerrr is a very active mascot who is all over the place on game day. The lion with the crown makes a perfect analogy to the king of the jungle, making him ROYALTY.

The muscular lion looks like he could play baseball himself but nonetheless makes a major part of the game for Royals fans, especially with his hotdog cannon.

Fun Fact: Sluggerrr was actually taken to court for allegedly hitting a fan in the eye with one of those hot dogs out of the cannon.

3. Orbit- Houston Astros

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Orbit is another mascot where they had to get a little creative, but an alien who looks like he comes here in peace fits perfectly in space city.

He is one of the most iconic mascots in the league. He is one of those mascots that you will see more than just at the ballpark.

He has built a brand of himself making him one of the best mascots in the league.

2. Mr. Redlegs- Cincinnati Reds

MLB

Mr. Redlegs is horrifyingly amazing. The Reds have an iconic logo with Mr. Red, and he is a perfect personification of that logo.

The giant baseball head with the mustache is perfect, but the freaky yellow eyes are what puts him over the top.

I’m not sure how many kids are going to want to go near him, but as you get older, you will learn to love him.

1. Phillie Phanatic - Philadelphia Phillies

AP Photo/Derik Hamilton

It’s hard to rank anyone in front of the Phillie Phanatic. No one can tell you what he is, and that is part of why he is so iconic.

He just causes chaos all pre-game and post-game, but he also is all over social media with all the shenanigans he pulls on game day.

He is known everywhere, and there is no one that has brought silliness to the game at the level that he has. He is an expert in his craft.

Tristan Kunec is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email tqk5432@psu.edu.