Six of the Most Famous Sports Mascots

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 29 April 2024

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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Most Famous Sports Mascots

• What Makes the Best Team Mascots?
• A Brief History of the Best Mascots in Sports
• Phanatic: Philly’s Fuzzy Icon
• Gritty’s Unmatched Philly Spirit
• Racing Sausages: A Tasty Tradition
• Jaxson de Ville’s Wild Antics
• Mr. Met: The Face of NY Baseball
• Benny the Bull: Around Since 1969

Sports mascots have become an integral part of the game day experience and team culture in many sports. Every mascot brings their own personality, antics, and legacy that brings fans together and, sometimes, intimidates opponents. While there are thousands of beloved mascots across professional and college sports, only a select few stand out as the best of the best. In today’s blog, we look at the most famous sports mascots.

What Makes The Best Team Mascots?

The best team mascots in sports are those that showcase the spirit, energy, and character of their teams while engaging and entertaining fans of all ages. These iconic figures have the power to bring supporters together, boost morale, and even help to influence the game, by spurring crowds on to cheer louder!

One key aspect of a great mascot is its uniqueness and memorability. The best mascots in sports often have distinctive designs, colors, and personalities and become iconic with the team they represent. Of course, interaction with the crowd is another important element of professional sports mascots.

The best mascots will actively engage with fans, participate in halftime shows, and create memorable moments that make the game more enjoyable for spectators. Whether it’s leading chants, posing for photos, or playfully taunting the opposing team, great mascots know how to captivate and energize the audience.

A Brief History of the Best Mascots in Sports

The history of sports mascots dates back to the late 19th century, when live animals were used to represent teams. One of the earliest recorded mascots was a live bulldog named Handsome Dan, who represented Yale University in 1892. Live animal mascots remained popular throughout the early 20th century, with teams using a variety of creatures, from bears and tigers to goats and roosters.

As time progressed, live animals as mascots were phased out on ethical grounds – and, as a result, human mascots began to emerge. In 1916, the Chicago Cubs introduced a mascot named Bear Cub, which was one of the first costumed mascots in professional sports. Other early costumed mascots included the New York Yankees’ Dandy and the Boston Braves’ Mr. Braves.

The 1960s and 1970s saw a surge in the popularity of sports mascots. The San Diego Chicken, introduced in 1974, became one of the first modern mascots, and its success spurred on teams around the world to create their own top sports mascots.

Today, mascots are an integral part of the sports experience, serving as brand ambassadors, community leaders, and fan favorites. Some NFL betting sites even offer special bets on what mascots will wear, and more!

Phanatic: Philly’s Fuzzy Icon

The Phillie Phanatic is one of the most famous sports mascots in the country. The Phillie Phanatic was first introduced in 1978 and was portrayed by David Raymond until 1993. He was succeeded by Tom Burgoyone, who successfully picked up from where Raymond left off.

The Phanatic is always present at home Phillies games where he greets and entertains fans, sometimes cruising around the sidelines on an ATV. One of his signature stunts is provoking the opposing team by dancing in front of their dugout or by mimicking their frustrated actions after they strikeout.

The best and most famous moment from the Phillie Phanatic comes during the seventh innings, when he gets up on the Phillies dugout to perform the Phanatic Dance. This dance involves some impressive yet strange looking moves that rile up the crowd every single time. Other classic Phanatic traditions include launching hot dogs into the crowd using his hot dog cannon and riding around the ballpark on his ATV to high five fans.

Even more than 40 years since his debut, the Phanatic remains one of the best mascots in sports and is an icon not just in Philadelphia, but across the US!

Gritty’s Unmatched Philly Spirit

It’s clear that team spirit is in the air in Philadelphia, because the official mascot for the Philadelphia Flyers, Gritty, is also one of the best team mascots in US sports. While some would likely disagree with our decision to place Gritty so high on our list – as he was only ‘created’ in 2018 – we have our reasons: he’s made a huge mark as a mascot and has become an iconic figure in the world of mascots.

Gritty has had several viral moments that have made him an incredibly recognizable figure for the Flyers. His googly eyes and fuzzy orange exterior make him an odd yet hilarious sight for hockey fans. He instantly drew attention when he debuted by falling on the ice as he made his debut!

He’s active on social media where he does not shy away from picking a fight with opposing mascots, but it’s all in good spirits – he even challenged the Phillie Phanatic to an ATV race when the Flyers faced the Phillies MLB team!

During Flyers games, Gritty interacts with fans, dances wildly to pump up crowds, and pokes fun at referees. He’s adored by many fans, and even those who aren’t fans of the team will smile when they see Gritty’s shenanigans before, during, and after the game.

He’s loved by Flyers fans and even if you aren’t a fan, it’s hard not to crack a smile when you see him engaging in his shenanigans.

Racing Sausages: A Tasty Tradition

The racing sausages may not be the traditional sports mascot, but they sure are entertaining. They started as a trio in the early 1990s and the other two members were introduced in the 2000s as the sausages started becoming hugely popular with the fans.

The sausages, made up of the originals (Bratwurst, Polish, and Italian) and the newcomers (Hot Dog and Chorizo) take part in a cartoon race that was broadcast on the giant scoreboard. At the bottom of the sixth at every home game, the sausages started in the left field corner and raced around home plate to right field. This has become such an iconic scene, that the mascot race is almost as popular as the game itself!

The sausages wear oversized uniforms, like massive sneakers and batting gloves, making them hilarious to watch – and everything about them is completely exaggerated! The sausages also have their own shows during games to entertain fans. This includes dancing on the dugouts, spraying fans with condiments, and other funny behaviors!

Today, the sausages have expanded beyond baseball and into the Milwaukee community. They make appearances at other sporting events in the city, community gatherings, charity events, and even weddings upon request!

Jaxson de Ville’s Wild Antics

The next mascot we’ll be looking at today is the self-dubbed “JaxHIM” who wears a personalized Jaguars jersey, a cool pair of shades, and sneakers. He’s often flying around Everbank Stadium on a scooter after making his dramatic entrance.

Jax is happiest taunting the opposition team and fans, and as well as the opposing team’s mascot. He’s regularly picked fights with rival mascots and climb the posts to really provoke the crowd. Though his stunts can be a bit risky, he always keeps things fun and light-hearted.

For his main event, Jaxon usually jumps into the pool at EverBank Stadium when the Jags win, which must feel great after spending the game wrapped up in a hot costume under the famous Floridian sun. He hypes up the crowd before taking the plunge, making a big scene as he dives into the refreshing water.

Jax often posts on social media, constantly tweeting about upcoming games, commenting on Jags news, and of course, talking smack to opponents. He’s known to get a little controversial now and then, but keeps things in good humor – and is an excellent addition to the Jaguars!

Mr. Met: The Face of NY Baseball

In the 1960s, Mr. Met a cartoon, but he came to life in physical form in 2000. Built of a body dressed in a full Mets uniform with a huge baseball head wearing a Mets hat, there’s no confusing which team this mascot roots for!

Mr. Met can always be seen during home games and when he’s not spurring on the crowd, he often poses for photo ops with young Mets fans. He greets spectators as they enter the park, leads people to their sections, and hands out merchandise to lucky fans.

During the game itself, Mr. Met dances on the dugouts between innings to get the fans engaged – and if the team is losing, he’ll do his absolute best to keep the fans backing their team. He also rides around the warning track on a scooter tossing t-shirts into the crowd. After Mets home runs, he even slides down the giant home run bell tower the team installed at the stadium!

He’s one of the most recognizable mascots not just in New York sports, but in all of Major League Baseball. Though his look is simple, the legacy he’s created is larger than life. Here are some interesting facts about him:

Benny the Bull: Around Since 1969

Benny the Bull, the iconic mascot of the Chicago Bulls, has been entertaining fans since back in 1969, making him one of the longest-appearing mascots in the NBA. Known for his energetic and mischievous personality, Benny has become a beloved figure not only among Bulls fans but also throughout the league.

With his bright red fur, horns, and jersey, Benny is easily recognizable and always ready to engage with the crowd. His crazy and entertaining antics have made him a fan favorite, as he performs impressive acrobatic dunks, dances with the Luvabulls cheerleaders, and playfully interacts with fans and players alike.

Benny has also made numerous appearances on television shows, commercials, and even a Hollywood movie, further cementing his status as a cultural icon. Benny was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2015, a well-deserved recognition for his decades of entertaining fans and his contributions to the world of sports mascots.

Occasionally, some sites offering live betting on basketball even offer special bets on mascots like Benny the Bull, where you can wager on things like what actions he’ll do during the game!