Check out the bios and videos in each category and find your favorites.
Voting took place between October 19 - November 12, 2022.
Ballots are no longer live!
You may vote once per day, with a unique and valid email address, and may vote for 1 mascot in each category. Duplicate attempts with the same email address will void all similar ballots.
There are 17 different ballots to vote on
You can vote for one entry on each ballot, or simply move to the next ballot without voting.
When you get to the end, click the SUBMITbutton and your ballot for all 17 ballots will be submitted.
As of midnight on Saturday, November 19, voting has stopped.
Winners will be announced during a live streamed event coming from the Mascot Hall of Fame. Stay tuned for details.
Major League Community Impact
Nominees - Major League Greatest Community Impact
A program within the organization’s community that is spearheaded by the team or school’s mascot which directly benefits the community. The program can be any type of effort which helps with specific needs within the community; Educational, fighting hunger, public safety, etc.
The Kicks4Kidscampaign lives and is run solely by the mascot program. This is year two of the program.
In year one we raised enough money to purchase 2500 pairs of brand-new NIKE shoes for kids in need of new shoes. The shoes were distributed through more than 35 different charities in 15 states and 3 different countries. The funds are raised through some of our amazing corporate sponsors who support the Kicks4kids scoot and though donations by our amazing fans. The Scoot is our only fundraiser that supports this event.
This event is a 6-day scoot across the state of Washington, starting at the Washington/Idaho border and finishing at Lumen Field roughly 400 miles later. During the scoot we make stops at a variety of locations to host fundraisers and meet n greet with fans. We recently just wrapped up the 2nd BLITZ Kicks4Kids “Good 4Your Sole Tour” scoot across the state and are on pace to raise enough money to purchase another 3,000 – 5,000 pairs of shoes to donate this year when all is said and done. The goal of this program has always been to use our social media platforms to have a positive impact on our community.
Plans for the 3rd annual Kicks4Kids Ride in 2023 are already underway! Why should someone vote for us? We all know the feeling of getting a new pair of shoes, the excitement, the boost of self-confidence you get and why would we want those in need to have that same experience. Kids that have never had a new pair of shoes or never even had a pair of shoes that came in a shoe box are getting to experience this feeling through are program. Parents who may have to work an extra shift to cover the expense of new shoes for growing kids can now stay home and spend time with their children and not have to stress over the expense.
We are not just giving shoes; we are giving families time.
Be Kind 21 was an initiative spearheaded by Kalen Jackson and Blue to spread joy and lift the spirits of the community around the Indianapolis Colts. Throughout the first 21 days of September, Kalen and Blue put smiles on faces, assisted in strengthening mental health of others, and highlighted the great actions that many can and already do throughout the community to help others and brighten the world around them.
These activities ranged from brightening the workplace with notes and treats, to paying for the groceries and gas of many in the community, handing out free hugs to anybody who needed or wanted one, highlighting Hispanic Heritage Month and great cultures within the community by providing lunch from a local Hispanic restaurant to teachers, and much more. These actions were posted Blue’s social media to not only brighten the days of those who watch, but to promote others to spread kindness in any way they are able. This initiative led up to Beyond the Sidelines, the gala put on by the Irsay family to raise money for mental health research and awareness.
Each year, Gritty puts on the world’s best 5K for Flyers Charities! The Gritty 5K brings together over 3000 fans to participate in 3.1 miles of chaos, complete with hot dogs, painting, games, ribbon dancing, and more surprises. On this course, participants are encouraged to have fun and dress up as our favorite orange mascot! On its fourth annual year, this Gritty-fied “run” is a marquee event for Flyers Charities. The proceeds raised helps Flyers Charities fulfill its mission. Each “runner” that joins in the fun, either virtually, or in Philadelphia, plays a vital role in assisting local families impacted by cancer, growing the game of hockey to diverse audiences, and improving sustainability efforts. This year’s Gritty 5K is also working towards being a “No Waste to Landfill” event, to reduce the environmental impact of events. To read more about the work of Flyers Charities, visit FlyersCharities.com.
Staley has done so much for my school during these 2 difficult school years. In September of 2019 before the terrible school year coming in 2020 Staley did his Bully assembly in English and Spanish! My school student population is 90% Hispanic so it was great for children that did not understand English to follow along. In May of 2020 when schools were shutdown I was struggling of what else I can do to get my students engaged during online learning. I asked Staley if he would do a virtual meet with my students. Staley said yes and it was his first time doing a virtual event. He came on the Meet and my students were so happy to see Staley. He did a show of being healthy and my students loved it.
During the following school year my school was still closed, Staley prerecorded his 3 assemblies that he has done at schools about Being Healthy, Bullies, and Importance of Reading. He sent me those videos with a teacher guide handout so I can teach with his videos. In February 2021 I asked Staley if he would make a personal video shout out for my students and he did! He made a 20-minute shout out video for my students. In the video Staley told my students that he was proud of them and to finish the school year strong. Also he spoke about of how to wear a mask, washing hands, and did a dance party at the end of the video for my students so they all danced together. In June of 2021 Staley came to our school to our End of the School Year Car Parade. My students got to see Staley in person, Staley walked up to the cars to take pictures with the students and they were so happy.
Staley deserves to be in the Mascot Hall of Fame for everything he has done for me and my students during this difficult and dangerous times in the world. Lastly in June of 2022 Staley performed along with Tommy Hawk an outside dance party for my students to end our school year.
For over two decades, Stinger has been one of the NHL’s most recognizable mascots, entertaining fans in Ohio’s capital city since July 1999. His passion for hockey and the Blue Jackets is matched only by the pride he takes in making a positive impact on others throughout our community
Last year, Stinger made 232 appearances throughout Central Ohio to aid numerous charitable organizations in their fundraising efforts. Thanks to his In-Game Celebration Package, he was able to raise $24,290 for the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation supporting children of Central Ohio through four main pillars – pediatric cancer, health and safety, education through literacy, and youth hockey.
Outside of his fundraising initiatives, Stinger is often found visiting schools, hospitals, and organizations with the community to put a smile on the faces of the young and old. When not making public appearances, Stinger uses social media and his celebrity status to help raise awareness for charities throughout the community.
Parrot has changed my life. He's such a good man and brings a smile on my face. I vividly remember when a call was made at first base, and parrot ran to the top of the dugout to argue the call and stick up for his team. His passion for the Pittsburgh Pirates is unmatched. He shows up and does his job and does it well.
Mascots are the opposite of social distancing so when the pandemic hit, TORO knew he needed to do something! TORO originated the idea of virtual classroom visits, which was quickly adapted as an industry best practice and many other professional mascots followed suit. Over the span of the pandemic, TORO virtually visited over 250 classrooms via Zoom.
TORO’s passion is to end bullying in all schools and he shares this message through the TORO Takes the Bull Out of Bullying assembly program. During the show, TORO teaches students what to do if they or someone they know are being bullied using the B-U-L-L acronym, which stands for Be Yourself, Use Your Voice, Leave and Look Out of Others. . Over the past 10 years, the program has positively impacted more than 200,000 elementary school-aged children. The program is offered to Houston area schools at no cost.
Each year TORO does over 400 community appearances. Most recently, TORO visited the community of Uvalde, TX to bring smiles to faces as they prepare to go back to school. The Texans surprised the Uvalde High School football team with new uniforms while TORO entertained at their first home game of the season. TORO also visited the site of the tragedy to pay his respects to the victims.
Stinger And Victor have had a battle back in the summer to see who can get the most rubber ducks!
Victor E Green won by 472 ducks, and he not only gave away the rubber ducks, but also free Dallas Stars tickets!
I want to nominate them both, ( Stinger AND Victor E Green,) because they both showed so many people that you can do anything when you set your mind to it.
“Wally’s Making Books Come Alive” is his official community literacy program, however, Wally visits dozens of locals schools, hospitals, and special community events throughout the year as entertainment and support.
Wally loves to read and the one thing he loves more is sharing that with his friends at schools across New England. He started the program years before COVID, but when the world went digital and remote, that didn’t stop Wally. He started zooming with schools and kept the performances going. Wally’s “Making Books Come Alive” is a special presentation where Wally joins his friend, Big League Brian, for a fun, fast-paced, and interactive reading experience that can be tailored to a classroom or an entire theater or gymnasium for an entire school!
A program within the organization’s community that is spearheaded by the team or school’s mascot which directly benefits the community. The program can be any type of effort which helps with specific needs within the community; Educational, fighting hunger, public safety, etc.
Auggie
Chico
Dale the Eagle
Gill the River Monster
Oilman Stan
Orbit
Peep
Slugger
Sweet Lou
Swish
Wiley
Auggie
Augusta GreenJackets - MiLB
Auggie’s Reading Program is an opportunity for the students in the CSRA to achieve a reading goal of four books in their reading level, with the intent to hit a HOMERUN for reading! As part of the program and encouraging the students to read, Auggie visits several of the schools that have signed up to participate throughout the months of February and March, usually kicking off the during Read Across America Week. The students have the opportunity to receive prizes from our Reading Program Partners, plus receiving a ticket to one of four Reading Program Nights during the GreenJackets season. Within the program, we’ve had as many as 50,000 students sign up!
Auggie at the Bat is combined with Auggie’s Reading Program with a re-enactment of “Casey at the Bat”. The skit is performed at the schools Auggie visits and allows him to share one of his favorite stories and encourage the fun of reading.
Auggie’s a stable in the CSRA, not just at SRP Park, but on both sides of the Savannah River! Auggie buzzes about the community, being a part of many events and programs, from schools to Parks & Recreation departments, parades and even company events, and that doesn’t include the GreenJackets Programs! He brings excitement and merriment everywhere he goes as one of the most recognizable bugs we know!
Over the past 9 years Chico the Chihuahua (mascot for the El Paso Chihuahuas) has graced the El Paso and Las Cruces communities with his presence. In the last year, Chico has done over 500 community appearances, over 200 of which have been in elementary schools. Chico’s four most popular school programs deal with topics such as the importance of reading (Ballpark Books), kindness and bully prevention (Buddy Not A Bully), standardized test taking (All STAAR Test Taker), and taking care of your body and saying no to drugs and alcohol (Home Run for Healthy Living).
Chico’s community impact does not stay just in El Paso. Chico has also spread his message by visiting schools in several other major cities in
Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, such as Dallas, San Antonio, and Phoenix.
In addition to Chico’s great community impact in El Paso, Chico has also participated in community appearances for Team Smile, National Night Out, and as well as Child Crisis Center.
Dale the Eagle is pivotal to the Long Island Nets organization. The Long Island Nets strives to be a staple within the Long Island community.
After winning three consecutive NBA G League Community and Social Responsibility Awards, The Long Island Nets continued to lend a helping hand off the court with a variety of community events across Long Island. We are committed to supporting the Long Island Community through diverse
outreach initiatives. Our platforms are education, health & wellness, and community development. Dale the Eagle is the face of our franchise and supports our community pillars within his characteristics and traits. His warm and energetic qualities always draws an audience to create life long experiences and priceless moments.
Name Origin: Dale the Eagle is short for Uniondale (a city on Long Island where the Long Island Nets play their home games)
Dale wears the number 72 because it represents The American Basketball Association’s New York Nets when they played at Nassau Coliseum starting in 1972
Community Service of FUN - Oilman Stan for the past 11 years has been the favorite Mascot in our area volunteering to bring laughter and fun to children, teenagers and adults across the cities and towns in Northwest Indiana. He never turns down a request and performs free of charge, he only works for happiness he brings to others in the community. Oilman Stan has supported the causes for healthy living, be a friend not a bully, exercise, and teamwork. He has also supported our Police, Fire and First Responders, Veterans, the handicapped and any other organization who wants to put a smile on someone face. He is beloved, dedicated and selfless he performs year-round. Please give him your thumbs up for this award.
The Gibson family who are the mascots for the Rubber Ducks are amazing! In addition to performing at the games and interacting with fans they also visit hospitals and make other public appearances. A selfless family with huge hearts that want nothing more than to spread love to others!!!
Orbit spent most Fridays with Sebastian (a special-needs child) throughout the season. His dedication and compassion towards Sebastian and so many others is why I think Orbit deserves this award. He worked with Sebastian to throw out the 1st pitch recently and there wasn't a dry eye in the house! Please pick Orbit for the Hall of Fame Award... he is an amazing father, friend, employee, and mascot!
Peep has spearheaded a program to get kids excited about reading. The performer and who Peep was created for, Nick, who is just 13 years old and in his 10th year of being a professional mascot, is dyslexic. Reading has been a major struggle for him. Being labeled as being different at school was also very hard. And the thought of being called on in class to read out loud was terrifying. As he has gotten older, he has realized that with hard work, and continued practice, his reading has improved greatly. Even with the dyslexia. The Sioux Falls Canaries Community foundation has greatly supported his efforts to promote reading - to make it fun for kids. To help show kids that they can do it. The hardcover book (Cagey and Peep's Home Run!) and the activity book (Peep & Cagey's Reading Challenge & Fun Book) were given out as premiums at several home games. They were both a big hit with the kiddos! They were also given out at local elementary schools and to school libraries. The idea is to have reading materials the kids are actually interested in. This makes reading much more fun. The activity book also issues a reading challenge that incentivizes kids to read - by being rewarded with free Canaries game tickets, a free comic book and a free cookie at a local high end bakery. There are also jokes, a crossword puzzle and search-a-word - all ways to get kids reading. This popular program will continue with a new piece each year.
Every year Slugger and the Portland Sea Dogs team up with Maine Children’s Cancer Program (MCCP) to “Strike Out Cancer in Kids” (SOCK). A kid from MCCP is chosen to act as a representative for all children receiving treatment and is given the title, The Slugger Kid. Over the season, Slugger forms a close bond with the Slugger Kid, and together, they work to raise funds for the SOCK campaign. Since its inception in 1995, Strike Out Cancer in Kids has raised over $5 million. Each season, 4 kids (current and former patients) are recognized as a “Hero at Hadlock” for a game. Shown in the video, they are cheered on by fans as they run the bases and receive high fives by players from both teams.
Slugger also makes many visits to see his friends at MCCP and those receiving treatment at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. A vote for Slugger is also a vote for all his friends at the Maine Children's Cancer Program, as he says, “They are the true heroes.”
The Magic of Reading program is a literacy program that encourages students to read more. Each student that participates receives a free ticket to a Lakeland Magic regular season game along with 50% off any additional tickets. Students also receive incentives for reading including class visits from Swish and
players. This program is totally free to participate in and is a great fun way to encourage students to read! To kick off the program we host kick-off assemblies with Swish in which he puts on a fun, high-energy, educational show for the students.
Swish books all of his own school assemblies for this program and does not charge anything. These shows are extremely well received by students and staff, and they have become very well known throughout Polk County schools. This program has encouraged thousands of kids to read and played a large part in improving literacy within Polk County. This program also tries to focus on low-income schools in order to give them a fun and free high quality school show from Swish, and gets them excited and something to look forward to for him to return if they complete their reading. Swish is extremely involved within the Polk County community and has become very well known in his community. Swish appeared at over 50 non-profit/charity events this past year, and many other various community events. Due to these reasons, Swish deserves your vote for greatest community impact!
Wiley the Wolverine came to life only one year ago, but his impact on our hockey team and our community has been incredible. Anchorage suffered the loss of all professional and collegiate hockey, and the kids of our city were without any local entertainment, or inspiration. With the addition of the Wolverines, older kids were given a team to cheer for - but the really little ones all gravitate towards our Wiley. He works tirelessly, as a member of our Air Force by day and a Wolverine by night. Wiley embodies what a true hero should be.
Nominees - College Mascot Greatest Community Impact
A program within the organization’s community that is spearheaded by the team or school’s mascot which directly benefits the community. The program can be any type of effort which helps with specific needs within the community; Educational, fighting hunger, public safety, etc.
Aubie the Tiger
Beacon & Blaze
Brutus Buckeye
Duke Dog
Sammy C. Hawk
Smokey
The Mountaineer
Aubie the Tiger
Auburn University - NCAA
Aubie the Tiger LOVES his Auburn Family! He not only adores the university, but also the surrounding community. From schools to senior living facilities, from festivals to fundraisers, Aubie brings his energy and enthusiasm to hundreds of community events across the entire state of Alabama and several states across the country every year. Through his passion and animated personality, Aubie brings smiles to thousands of faces.
Aubie, Auburn University's tiger mascot, is in his 44th season as a spirit leader and goodwill ambassador for Auburn University. A popular character among Auburn fans and one of the most animated mascots in the country, Aubie is the living spirit of Auburn.
Beacon & Blaze
Valparaiso University
Beacon & Blaze – a golden retriever and chocolate lab duo – are the new Valparaiso University mascots. This announcement came nearly a year after the University announced its new nickname: the Beacons.
Before the Beacon nickname even came into consideration, Valpo's students were already beacons in the community. They entered college as beacons of hope for a better future, the workforce as beacons of light for new leadership, and the world as beacons of change for a new tomorrow.
Beacon & Blaze serve as an extension of the motif of light that the University has fostered over the years. Valpo's motto is "In Thy Light, We See Light," and one of the campus' huge draws is the Chapel of the Resurrection, the largest collegiate chapel in the United States, with an iconic nave, a beautiful chancel, and stained glass windows that are symbolic of the light brought to the world by Valpo students. The University also had a "faithful campus dog," George, in the 1930s who is buried near a large tree on campus. He is said to be the distant relative of Beacon & Blaze.
Perhaps the best part about Beacon & Blaze is how they came to be. Valpo students conducted research, distributed surveys, and ultimately formed a student-led committee to make the final call. It would take several months, but with a goal of being more diverse, equitable, and inclusive, the committee was able to come up with mascots that aligned with the University's values, fit in with other mascots in Valpo's sports conference, and could play the part of what Valparaiso University needed from their mascots.
The announcement of Beacon & Blaze was made in August of 2022, with the appearance of the duo coming in later that month.
Brutus Buckeye
Ohio State University
Kids camp with Brutus the Buckeye helps to raise funds for cancer research.
Duke Dog
James Madison University
Duke Dog has been an integral part of JMU and the local community since 1982. He has be synonymous with the pride of JMU and always brings vibrant energy to students, fans, and kids of all ages. Duke Dog is such a prominent figure that he is called upon to attend weddings, birthday events, retirement parties and so much more.
Duke Dog should be voted in because of the joyous image and fond memories he leaves each person with after their encounters with him. Also, Duke Dog celebrates his 40th birthday this season as the face of James Madison University and JMU Athletics.
Sammy C. Hawk
UNC Wilmington
Sammy is truly THEE ambassador of UNCW Athletics. Sammy can be seen entertaining fans at numerous UNCW Athletic events throughout the school year. Weather it’s basketball, soccer, volleyball or baseball, Sammy C. Hawk can been seen in the stands interacting with Seahawk fans young and old. Outside the campus community, Sammy is just as popular. This regal bird makes visits to area schools, helps with the annual shoe donation to the local Boys & Girls Club, dressed as “Sammy Claus” for the holidays and is part of a number of fundraising events and festivals. While athletes, coaches and administrators have changed through the years, Sammy C. Hawk is the one constant at UNCW and continues to be as popular as ever.
Smokey
University of Tennessee
Smokey attends hundreds of community service events and appearances each year. However, over the past year Smokey has been giving extra attention to bringing smiles and joy to some of his friends and biggest fans in nursing homes across East Tennessee. Whether it is simply visiting each room in a nursing home to say hello or it is attending a party hosted by the nursing home staff, Smokey has visited hundreds of residents in numerous facilities across East Tennessee. This unique initiative takes Smokey to those who otherwise would not be able to see him in-person or have a personal connection with the University of Tennessee, and it has led to Smokey hearing many comments like, "I haven't seen you in years!" or "I used to love watching you when I came to games. It is so good to see you!" Nursing home staff has also given feedback, including Smokey's favorite quote from a visit this summer when an administrator said, "You have no idea what this means to us. We've seen residents smile today that we haven't seen smile in a long, long time."
The Mountaineer
West Virginia University
What makes the Mountaineer Mascot unique compared to others is the fact that every year a new individual will serve in the position. For other mascots, an individual changes his/her personality to portray that of the character. The Mountaineer Mascot position, however, allows any individual to let their unique personality shine as they carry on the responsibilities. For other schools, the person becomes the mascot; at WVU, the mascot becomes the person.
In keeping with the mission of West Virginia University as a land-grant institution, our Mountaineer commits to creating a diverse and inclusive culture that advances education, healthcare and prosperity by visiting and engaging with children in schools across rural West Virginia that historically have never been to a WVU sporting event or have never seen our flagship university mascot. One highlighted program, among many, is the Mountaineer Mascot Blood Drive Program, implemented in 2019 as a means to give back to our community due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. What better way to give back to your community by actually helping to save lives of those around you. These blood drives, in partnership with the American Red Cross, involves the Mountaineer advertising the event through all of her social media platforms. Once the blood drives are filled, the Mountaineer attends each blood drive visiting and thanking the donors and donating blood herself. Our Mountaineer now hosts three blood drives per year and has helped to collect hundreds of units of blood ultimately helping to save hundreds of lives in our community.
If one were to condense this legacy of service into a single vision, the Mountaineer has come to symbolize serving not only the West Virginia University community, the Morgantown community, but also the entire state of West Virginia and its people. The Mountaineer Mascot, to West Virginians, is a symbol of ruggedness, freedom and strength while being the face of a deeply cherished state and university.
Nominees - High School Mascot Greatest Community Impact
A program within the organization’s community that is spearheaded by the team or school’s mascot which directly benefits the community. The program can be any type of effort which helps with specific needs within the community; Educational, fighting hunger, public safety, etc.
Benjamin Beaver took on a special role for the community during the pandemic. He helped the students navigate a tough time of distance learning, isolation, depression and the loss of fun activities. He helped to add some fun to the educational materials as the district returned to in-person classes.
Buddy is actively involved in all aspects of the local and school community. Buddy goes over and beyond to ensure all spectators and students have fun and exciting experiences. Buddy is actively involved in the professional mascot community, partnering with the Boomer, Buster and Rocky.
Buddy is looking to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a professional mascot.
Buzz Jacket
Fort Mill High School - Fort Mill, SC
Buzz did a promo video to promote Fort Mill High School students to raise money for the Special Olympics of South Carolina at their Polar Plunge event.The day he did the promo video, it was cold, with snow on the ground and windy. Buzz did it with no complaints. Even though his costume was filled with 40 degree water. We had to have lifeguards on duty in case his suit absorb water too rapidly. Fort Mill High School was one of the top earners in South Carolina for the event.
Nominees - Corporate Mascot Greatest Community Impact
A program within the organization’s community that is spearheaded by the team or school’s mascot which directly benefits the community. The program can be any type of effort which helps with specific needs within the community; Educational, fighting hunger, public safety, etc.
Chuck E. Cheese
Dugout
Chuck E. Cheese
Chuck E. Cheese has been around for 45 years providing entertainment for families and children around the US and the world. In this video, it shows the type of impact Chuck E. Cheese can have. The child in this video was battling cancer, and he also has a disability. Through the front row foundation, Chuck E. Cheese was able to be a part of a day of fun for him and the kid was able to spend time with Chuck E. and even got a special surprise from him too. These are the moments that show a true mascot performance in action.
This Summer, the Little League Baseball World Series celebrated its 75th Anniversary and as part of that celebration, counted down some of the key moments, people, and memories that have transpired over the years. One of those 75 recognitions came with the "Diamond Moment" of the debut of Little League's official mascot, Dugout, who came to life in 1985 and today continues to bring smiles and excitement to fans of all ages at the world's largest youth baseball tournament each summer. From its on-field antics and highly anticipated hugs and high-fives in stands, Dugout is a fan favorite for visitors from all over the world at the Little League Baseball World Series each year.
Voting is complete - Winners to be announced during a live streamed event on November 19.
Major League Best In-Game Routine or Skit
Nominees - Major League Best In-Game Routine or Skit
An in-game routine or skit that the mascot performs during the sporting event for the team or school. It could be a single routine/skit or a series of the same routine/skit that is performed all season long.
Bernie Brewer
Blooper
Boomer
Jaxson de Ville
Jazz Bear
Lou Seal
Guardians Hot Dogs
Orbit
Rangers Captain
Tempo the Coyote
Wally the Green Monster
Bernie Brewer
He's an ironic mascot with a cool chalet and slide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivyK97pjqAA
Blooper
Blooper, Bloopy, Big Cats Dad, Mayor of Cincinnati, Philanthropist Bloopy, he goes by many names. He brings smiles and laughter not only at the ballpark but also as a dominating presence on social media platforms. His pre game shenanigans are 1 in a Million.
He went from one of the most hated mascots of all time at the time of his reveal to one of the most beloved in a span of 3 years.
Boomer
Indiana Pacers - NBA
I think Boomer deserves the nomination for Best In-Game Routine because, in my opinion, it's one of the coolest pre-game entrances or in-game stunts that I've ever seen a mascot do. There's been plenty of mascots before that have used zip lines and other similar methods, but you have to have pretty thick skin and an ability to block out just how high up you are to do what Boomer does before every single home game during the pregame introductions. Pacers fans KNOW when it's game time the moment they see Boomer drop from the catwalk WAY atop Gainbridge Fieldhouse. I sat in the balcony during an Eagles concert and I looked straight across me and SAW the area where Boomer drops down. I got chills and nervous just LOOKING at it! But it's not just during pregame that Boomer may pull off a stunt similar to this - at some home games during the fourth quarter, he'll even go BACK UP to the rafters while unfurling a giant banner to get the crowd hyped! Also, continuity is important here because the performer that does it now actually carried the stunt over from the original performer, who did it in the Pacers' early years at MSA. I've been a Pacers fan since the mid-90's and Boomer was the first mascot I truly fell in love with - but the first time I saw him do this stunt, it made me fall in love all over again. I've always said it's the best pregame entrance in sports, and I'd love to see Boomer recognized for it!
Jaxson de Ville
Jacksonville Jaguars - NFL
Jaxson’s pre-game stunt off the light towers at TIAA Bank Field is the most unique and incredible way to get Jaguars’ fans hyped up and excited for kickoff. Standing nearly 200 feet above the field, the first time fans catch a glimpse of Jaxson is moments before this iconic stunt where you may see a giant swan dive, a double backflip, or gainer into an unbelievable bungie / zipline ride high above the crowd. Not only does Jaxson perform this at home games in Jacksonville, but also had the opportunity to be the only mascot to replicate it at the iconic Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
A vote for Jaxson’s stunt as the best “In-Game Routine or Skit” is a no brainer as it is a tradition that has been around for nearly a decade that even opposing team fans make the trip to Jacksonville just to see it in person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7MT7BfaQ7A
Jazz Bear
Utah Jazz - NBA
Beartoven with SnubbyJ.
Teaming up with an influencer Bear and Snubbyj created a halftime like no other.
Building the pipedrum and performing all around the arena and at halftime.
Mascot Luchador Wrestling 2022: Tempo the Coyote vs Cozmo
This first of its kind crossover event for Major League Soccer mascots pitted the two biggest and best mascots in MLS against each other in a 25 minute scripted super-skit pregame before Nashville SC's Hispanic Heritage Night vs the the visiting LA Galaxy. 5 rounds of comic mischief played out in the wrestling ring with flying tacos, falling pianos, mascots clothes-lining each other and a smooth jazz chess break in the middle (followed by Tempo smashing Cozmo through the chess table). Tempo the Coyote was the winner of the championship belt in the end, but the weeks-long feud was resolved with an on-field jersey swap before the soccer match kicked off. With assistance from Nashville's Hispanic supporter group, La Brigada Del Oro, Tempo was fitted with an authentic custom Lucha Libre mask from a specialty mask shop in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Wally the Green Monster
Boston Red Sox - MLB
Wally’s Pregame Handshake
Wally and his co-worker Jae, are both busy on the field during pregame ceremonies every single night, as Wally greets every participant and Jae directs the entire show. However, no matter how chaotic things get down there, they always find time right before “play ball” to meet up for their very elaborate handshake that only gets bigger and longer every season!
Nominees - Minor League Best In-Game Routine or Skit
An in-game routine or skit that the mascot performs during the sporting event for the team or school. It could be a single routine/skit or a series of the same routine/skit that is performed all season long.
Chico
Dillon
Orbit
Peep
Shelldon
Skates the Gray Wolf
Slugger
Swish
Webster
Chico
El Paso Chihuahuas
"Sunscreen Painting Skit"
This video depicts Chico’s attempt to promote sun safety at baseball games by encouraging fans to wear sunscreen. Chico demonstrates how to apply sunscreen onto someone in a comical way by apply sunscreen onto his assistant using a paint roller. The skit was performed on Sep 18 2022 during a day game with a noon start time in front of 6,686 fans.
Dillon T. Pickle is a staple of the Portland baseball community and beyond. Over his tenure as the mascot of The Portland Pickles Baseball Club, he has had no trouble defending his home field as shown by his tackle on the streaker at Walker Stadium. He is an international sensation, making appearances on over 1000 stations and media outlets including; ESPN, Bleacher Nation, Barstool Sports, Jimmy Kimmel and The New York Times and visiting countries such as Germany, Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada and more! He is a 7 foot pickle, what else are you looking for?
We had a player named Burt Reynolds, so it seemed natural to host a Burt Reynolds night at a Sioux Falls Canaries game. Complete with Smokey and the Bandit costumes, a 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, Burt Reynolds look-a-like contest, CB radios, signage all over the stadium, and of course iconic Smokey and the Bandit music. The night was a huge success and our player, Burt Reynolds, was a fantastic sport and enjoyed every minute of it.
This is one of Shelldon's various skits from this season! Our goal with our team was to have Shelldon perform original skits, not seen by other mascots, throughout the season. Being the most active MiLB mascot throughout the year, we're hoping Shelldon's constant activity online and in person will be worth a nomination and award.
Swish runs out to center court thinking he is going to show off his light saber skills on Star Wars night but instead trips over a guitar that is lying on the floor. The spotlight shines on him and Swish quickly realizes he is expected to play this new instrument for the fans. Swish has never played a guitar before and tries to learn it as fast as he can string by string. To the fans' surprise, Swish is quite good at the guitar, and he finishes the skit by playing a snippet of the famous song "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King.
Swish is actually playing the acoustic guitar in this skit (not fake playing over a track). This is a very unique talent that Swish has, and this skit shows off his musical ability. This skit is completely original and has never been done in game by any mascot besides Swish. Due to the creativity, originality, and difficulty of this skit, Swish deserves your vote!
An in-game routine or skit that the mascot performs during the sporting event for the team or school.
It could be a single routine/skit or a series of the same routine/skit that is performed all season long.
Aubie the Tiger
Cosmo the Cougar
Salukis
Smokey
Sparky
The Bearcat
The Hawk
Traveler
Tuffy the Titan
Aubie the Tiger
Auburn University - NCAA - SEC
Every Auburn Football game day, Aubie provides entertainment for thousands of fans with his in-game skits. He is constantly coming up with fresh ideas to engage and captivate the audience. With his goofy antics, hilarious costumes, and “Aubie-sized” props, Aubie often draws more attention than the game itself. He has even been known to win over the hearts of the opposing team’s fans. Aubie strives to provide fans with an elevated game day experience. This year, against San Jose State (the home of Silicon Valley), Aubie decided to explore the Metaverse and find out what the world of Virtual Reality has to offer.
Aubie, Auburn University's tiger mascot, is in his 44th season as a spirit leader and goodwill ambassador for Auburn University. A popular character among Auburn fans and one of the most animated mascots in the country, Aubie is the living spirit of Auburn.
Cosmo the Cougar
Brigham Young University - NCAA - West Coast Conference
Cosmo the Cougar leaps onto three levels of plastic tables in the third quarter of the BYU vs Utah State game on Sept. 29 in Provo.
Cosmo performs a stunt every game in LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Salukis
Southern Illinois University in Carbondale - NCAA - Missouri Valley Conference
Grey Dawg is the only Saluki mascot in the United States (and maybe even the entire world.) A Saluki is an Egyptian bred dog. I support the SIU-C Salukis because they have a mascot like no other. The Saluki is a mascot that no one has ever actually heard of (Unless you went to school there.) That’s because this mascot choice is unusual in every best way possible.
Smokey
University of Tennessee - NCAA - Southeastern Conference
This routine is just one of 8 that Smokey will perform during a timeout between quarters of a home football game this season! Each routine includes new choreography so that the fans have a new treat each and every game!
This routine deserves a nomination because it uniquely incorporates many elements, while still holding true to the Smokey character. First, Smokey is incorporated into the routine with the cheer and dance teams, showing his participation in spirit raising - he can be a solo act, but loves to show off with his cheer and dance teams even more! Second, he opens the routine displaying his tumbling skills. Other mascots tumble and dance, but do they do it with giant feet, a huge snout, and floppy ears?! No way! Third, Smokey busts a move with a technically challenging hip hop dance feature before turning the stage back over to the dance team for their time to shine. Finally, the routine ends with Smokey rejoining the teams to put an exclamation point on it all with the iconic Smokey split at the end!
Sparky
Arizona State University - NCAA - Pac-12 Conference
Sparky is an excellent example of what a mascot should be and do as it pertains to sporting events.
Additionally, he represents the largest public university in the United States, the prestigious Arizona State University.
The Bearcat
University of Cincinnati - NCAA - Big 12 Conference
Bearcat is coming off a UCA National Championship win. With this title he has been working relentlessly too, like always, find new and creative ways to impress the crowd and school. During game four of the season, Bearcat decided to give out free "haircuts." Bearcat was able to get volunteers all over the student section. People were lining up in hoards to get a fresh cut from the national champion. Bearcat is able to get the crowd involved during the game. With these skits he is able to create an atmosphere like no other and allow for students to feel like they are apart of the game at play.
Bearcat has been representing the University of Cincinnati for 107 years and along the way has become an icon in the city of Cincinnati. With this, he has a big responsibility to entertain people of all ages. His main audience is college students and during this game skit he was able to cultivate a live audience and have an "all eyes on me" moment. During the game the Big XII media team was there to discover what the University was all about and their media team stated "we have never seen a mascot do anything like this and be so prepared for a game." This skit was one of the funniest, most entertaining, edge of your seat performance any mascot has done in this decade.
The Hawk
Saint Joseph's University - NCAA - Atlantic 10 Conference
The Hawk flaps his wings for the entirety of each Basketball game.
Traveler
University of Southern California - NCAA - Pac 12 Conference
Traveler® first appeared at University of Southern California football games in 1961, in the home opener versus Georgia Tech. Earlier that year, Bob Jani and Eddie Tannenbaum (USC’s director of special events and a junior at USC, respectively) saw Richard Saukko riding his white horse, Traveler® I, in the Rose Parade. An idea sprang to mind! They persuaded Richard to bring his horse to ride around the Coliseum during USC football games, and serve as a mascot. The new tradition stuck! To this day, when USC scores, Traveler® gallops around the Coliseum to the tune of the band playing “Conquest”. Richard first rode Traveler® in the outfit worn by actor Charlton Heston in Ben Hur. That proved cumbersome, however, so in 1962 he crafted his own leather costume, modeled after the Tommy Trojan statue on the USC campus (that outfit is on display in Heritage Hall). But he still sometimes wore Heston’s helmet. Richard trained and rode USC’s equestrian mascots until 1988, when others took over the role of Tommy Trojan. After his passing in 1992, his wife Patricia continued the tradition of raising and training the famous Traveler® horses until she retired following the 2002 season. She asked Joanne Asman to take over with her own Traveler® 7 in 2003.
The current Trojan mascots is Traveler® IX, & Traveler X a beautiful Andalusian gelding. While the breed of horse has changed over the years (from an Arabian/Tennessee Walker to a pure-bred Arabian to a Spanish Andalusian), every Traveler® has been white in color. Joanne Asman who took over in 2003, has continued the Legacy. Traveler® was inducted into the University of Southern California Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Since taking over Joanne has provided 4 Travelers. Traveler VII ran from 2003 to 2019 until he was 28 years old and was forced to retire, Traveler VIII unfortunately passed away unexpectedly just after coming on Board in 2018. Now we have Traveler IX and Traveler X who take turns either performing at the Games or at Personal Appearances.
In the fall of 2004, the late USC alumnus Bill Tilley (’61) and his wife, Nadine, donated permanent endowment to support Traveler®. Bill was Chairman and CEO of the Jacmar Companies, a multifaceted international restaurant and food service enterprise, and majority owner of the popular B.J.’s Restaurant and Brewery. Nadine is an avid breeder of champion Andalusian horses, and hopes that a future Traveler® will be bred at Tilley Andalusians (in Hidden Valley near Thousand Oaks), now known as “The Home of Traveler®.”
Trojan faithful swear Traveler® can affect the outcome of games, and he has been touted as one of greatest inspirational devices USC has for players. Richard once said, “(Former USC coach) John McKay didn’t want to admit that the horse had anything to do with his success, but he’d always give me a wink when he saw me waiting in the Coliseum tunnel.”
Joanne Asman who took over in 2003, has continued the Legacy. Traveler® was inducted into the University of Southern California Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Since taking over Joanne has provided 4 Travelers. Traveler VII ran from 2003 to 2019 until he was 28 years old and was forced to retire, Traveler VIII unfortunately passed away unexpectedly just after coming on Board in 2018. Now we have Traveler IX and Traveler X who take turns either performing at the Games or at Personal Appearances.
Traveler is the most beloved Mascot and the USC Alumni and students believe him to be the Best Mascot there is. Many students and sports players come to USC just to be near the Mascot.
The feeling of Trojan Family when Traveler takes the field is beyond any pride one could have.
Tuffy the Titan
Tuffy the Titan preformed in a dance battle vs. Duke's Blue Devil mascot in the 2022 NCAA Round 1 Men's Basketball March Madness Tournament on Friday, March 18, 2022 in Greenville, SC. With a sold out crowd, the environment was booming and Tuffy held his own battling it out move by move. Tuffy was such a hit, @ESPNUpstates tweeted shortly after the performance claiming that, "The Cal State Titan elephant just absolutely waxed the floor with Duke's Blue Devil in the dance competition. It wasn't even close. The elephant is a one seed in that competition."
Tuffy continues to provide fans with fun in-game experiences and deserves recognition for this legendary performance held on March 18th.
Nominees - High School Best In-Game Routine or Skit
An in-game routine or skit that the mascot performs during the sporting event for the team or school. It could be a single routine/skit or a series of the same routine/skit that is performed all season long.
Benjamin Beaver has appeared at least once with every one of the high school’s 21 athletic teams. This includes some of the sports where you wouldn’t expect a mascot: golf, track, tennis, swimming, bowling and trap shooting. Benjamin even took on something relatively dangerous - running over hurdles as a routine to entertain the crowd.
You know you picked the correct person for the job when a month after he takes over he dunks the Assistant Principal (and now new principal.) Although he would’ve got penalized for taunting for that look back.
A produced video featuring the mascot. This video could be used online, on social, or at a live event. Videos should be judged on originality, creativity, and entertainment value. Does not have to be sport related.
Blue
Jazz Bear
Phillie Phanatic
Southpaw
Blue
Indianapolis Colts - NFL
Blue’s April Fools Balloon Prank
On April Fool’s Day, Blue posted a video pranking one of the Indianapolis Colts interns with popping a balloon full of shaving cream. To date, the video has gained over 36.5 million views on all social platforms.
This movie was shown at the ballpark before our annual fireworks show and represents an effective collaboration between the Phillies video department and the Phillie Phanatic. We joined together to develop the storyline, scout the locations around the city and schedule the shoot. We hired an outside film crew to shoot the movie and we edited it in-house. The film was a perfect set-up to the on-field light show which led to the launch of the fireworks show. The fans reacted and cheered at all the right moments in the film and when the film faded to black and the Phanatic entered the field to beat the villains and touch home plate with the bat, the crowd went wild.
The movie got wonderful press coverage and was a big hit on social media. After 50 years of post game firework shows, it's a great accomplishment to come up with something fresh and new that made this Fourth of July tradition one to remember!
Southpaw
Chicago White Sox - MLB
Southpaw’s 18th Birthday Surprise
“It’s Southpaw’s 18th birthday and he is officially an adult! Here is a short story of Southpaw’s growing pains into adulthood.”
A produced video featuring the mascot. This video could be used online, on social, or at a live event. Videos should be judged on originality, creativity, and entertainment value. Does not have to be sport related.
In this video Chico is washing his jersey and accidentally shrinks it. We used this video on our social media platforms in the last few weeks of the off season this year to engage our fan base and get them excited about our upcoming season.
A high-action battle between Fang Skywalker and the Evil Whiff Emperor to determine the fate of the galactic ballpark. Video used to promote the popular Star Wars theme night hosted at the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Not all bears are scary. At GCS Credit Union Ballpark, we are all about providing high-energy family fun, as well as continuous fan & community engagement, which Izzy deserves some recognition for! You'll find Izzy the Grizzlie throwing out the first pitch, dancing on the dug-out, leading the kids parade, signing autographs, and much more. Our short video highlights how Izzy helps the Gateway Grizzlies be about so much more than baseball! You'll also see him meet up with a (newly iconic) fan favorite... the hot dog man!
This video served as our home game schedule release for the 2022-2023 season. This is just one example of how great our mascot is in a variety of situations. This was a multi day shoot, around 4 hours to complete. His mannerisms and his contributions to this video in concept and when filmed were great. How he interacts with others and, in this case, alone, make us feel like he really is the best mascot in the NBA G League.
Not only is he a staple in the community and amongst the entire Minor League (MiLB), but he is known as the ONLY mascot to execute the head/handstand. This year (7/24/22) the Tortugas commemorated this moment by giving away a Shelldon Tortuga head/hand stand Bobble-Legs bobblehead on his Birthday. The cool thing about it is it’s upside down, so the legs bobble since his head is attached to the base. When it comes to mascots Shelldon sets the standard. He’s constantly doing daring acts or foolishness like smashing fans with cakes. He has new outfits to match the themed nights constantly and is even joined by Shelly Tortuga sometimes. This is a NO BRAINER, Shelldon Tortuga is HIM!!!
Slugger always tries to contribute to holiday festivities and last Thanksgiving, he decided to provide the turkey. Sometimes his methods can be quite… different. Vote for the best botanist in the MiLB!
(Do not try to plant a turkey without Slugger supervision.)
Swish has a list of his 2022 New Year's Resolutions that he is trying to check off as soon as possible. This video is a compilation of Swish completing each resolution throughout the Lakeland Magic's first home game of the new year. His final resolution is to make his first half court shot which he completes on his first attempt to end the video.
This is a very original and creative video idea. There was a lot of time and effort that went into the making of this video. This is a unique video with a variety of small skits. The video includes comedy as well as skill. For these reasons, you should vote for Swish!
A produced video featuring the mascot. This video could be used online, on social, or at a live event. Videos should be judged on originality, creativity, and entertainment value. Does not have to be sport related.
Aubie the Tiger
Duke Dog
Smokey
Sparky
The Bearcat
Wally Wabash
Willie the Wildcat
Willy the Wolverine
Aubie the Tiger
Auburn University - NCAA
Auburn University and the Auburn Family loves their tiger! To stay connected with his fans across the globe and the general public, Aubie is engaged through multiple social media platforms. The evolution of TikTok has allowed Aubie to entertain fans with video skits and shorts any time and any place. For this video, Aubie showed off his dance moves and camera skills to a classic remix at the brand new recruiting area at the home of Auburn Football, Jordan-Hare Stadium. The dance garnered thousands of views and likes and started a trend amongst the various spirit groups on campus.
Aubie, Auburn University's tiger mascot, is in his 44th season as a spirit leader and goodwill ambassador for Auburn University. A popular character among Auburn fans and one of the most animated mascots in the country, Aubie is the living spirit of Auburn.
Duke Dog has always been a fan favorite. If you ask around, you'll learn that Duke Dog is appreciated and respected within Harrisonburg, Virginia, home of James Madison University!
Smokey
University of Tennessee - NCAA
Smokey has seen an incredible increase of social media presence over the past year, and has embraced this as an opportunity to have daily connection with his fans. Just one month ago, Smokey started a TikTok account to further this connection with his fans. In just 30 days, Smokey has amassed nearly 40,000 followers and millions of video views. This specific video short deserves a nomination because it shows the mischievous and funny personality of Smokey's character, while telling a creative story that resonated with all of Smokey's fans. What sets this video apart is that this story is told clearly without any words or lyrics, relying solely on Smokey's performance. This video was released the week of the Tennessee vs. Florida football game, a huge rivalry for Tennessee fans, and shows a gator (Florida's mascot) that has snuck onto the field of iconic Neyland stadium. Smokey sneaks up behind the gator and ultimately "gator wrestles" this nemesis and removes the gator from the stadium, reclaiming his home turf. This proved to be foreshadowing of the game that would come a few days later!
The video has garnered more than 350,000 views on social media, most of them on TikTok, from Smokey's fans around the world! This nomination will help even more fans, specifically mascot fans, to see the hard work and creativity that Smokey is bringing day in and day out!
Sparky and his crew worked hard and bought their own materials to promote the Sun Devils taking on the NAU Lumberjacks for the first game of the year. This video was also shot, edited, and produced by members of the Sparky team.
The Bearcat is coming off a UCA National Championship win. With this title he has been working relentlessly too, like always, find new and creative ways to impress the crowd and school. During game four of the season, Bearcat had the pleasure of joining the dance team for a special performance! Bearcat surprised fans as the dance team’s special guest and received a lot of exciting cheers just from walking onto the field. He showed off his dance moves while synchronizing with the dance team to pull off an impressive performance. Bearcat has been representing the University of Cincinnati for 107 years and along the way has become an icon in the city of Cincinnati. With this, he has a big responsibility to entertain people of all ages. His main audience is college students and during this dance he was able to show the student section his skills. Bearcat loves getting to interact with his fellow students, so performing for the student section with fellow student dancers was the best of both worlds for him. He was able to take a pause from his regular game time activities and skits for this unique opportunity that shows his wide range of talent.
Wally Wabash
Wabash College - NCAA DIII
Wally Wabash, the mascot, embodies Wabash College, based on his spirit, unwavering optimism and enthusiasm, and character. Wally is alive on campus at most events and is a liaison between Wabash College, local community, and broader alumni community.
Willie the Wildcat
Northwestern University - NCAA
Willie is the best mascot!! Everybody at our school adores him and I truly cannot imagine a mascot that is more loved. The excitement when he posts, walks through the stands, or even does simple dances is unparalleled. His ability to convey emotion and tell stories with no words is mind blowing to me! We love Willie!
Willy the Wolverine
Utah Valley University - NCAA
Willy the Wolverine is an incredible mascot whose focus is to support the athletes at Utah Valley University and the students who attend there! His main joys are meeting the kids, faculty, students, athletes, and any other entertainment. He is super sweet and is an all-around athlete/party animal.
A produced video featuring the mascot. This video could be used online, on social, or at a live event. Videos should be judged on originality, creativity, and entertainment value. Does not have to be sport related.
Diesel has been an amazing asset to our school. He is energetic, loving, and gets the crowds going no matter what the situation is. He is there for parents, kids, and anything else he gets called to do. He is everything a mascot should be and represents this group with the most enthusiastic smile all the time.
Benjamin Beaver is featured at the Beaver Dam High School basketball games that draw large crowds in their new Field House. The girl's team were three-time State Champions between 2017-2019. Benjamin leads the team onto the floor with his flag, and thrills the audience with his trick shots during halftime.
Before the current student took over, the mascot only attended Football games. After the current student took over, he has attended every sport at least once AND has even done skits and videos for other sports including this one with State Championship winning Swim Coach Cindy.
Specific to corporate mascots where corporations use their mascot to positively enhance their brand to the public.
GEICO Gecko
Cuppy
Dugout
LiMu the Emu
Tubby
GEICO Gecko
The GEICO Gecko® loves to tell people how GEICO could help them save on insurance.
Cuppy
Reese's University - CUPPY!
Wilder than a wildcat. Tougher than an Aggie. More classic than a Spartan. Cuppy is the embodiment of th eunique and irrepressible fighting spirit of all Fighting Cuppies. With a distinct Peanut Butter Cup head and impressive physical stature, you can't miss Cuppy., even among thousands of screaming members of Peanut Butter Nation. Just look for the walking, dancing, flexing candy with swagger for days.
Fight, Cuppies! Fight!
Dugout
Little League International
This Summer, the Little League Baseball World Series celebrated its 75th Anniversary and as part of that celebration, counted down some of the key moments, people, and memories that have transpired over the years. One of those 75 recognition's came with the "Diamond Moment" of the debut of Little League's official mascot, Dugout, who came to life in 1985 and today continues to bring smiles and excitement to fans of all ages at the world's largest youth baseball tournament each summer. From its on-field antics and highly anticipated hugs and high-fives in stands, Dugout is a fan favorite for visitors from all over the world at the Little League Baseball World Series each year.
LiMu Emu and Doug star in Liberty Mutual Insurance’s new ad campaign. The duo appear in new spots to spread word that Liberty Mutual customizes coverage so you’ll only pay for what you need
New campaign illustrates brand’s approach to offering customized insurance coverage, stresses importance of helping consumers only pay for what they need
A few new faces (and feathers) are moving into the advertising world: meet LiMu Emu and Doug, the stars of Liberty Mutual Insurance’s new national advertising campaign that launches today. The fictional dynamic duo are passionate about saving people from overpaying for one-size-fits-all insurance.
Tubby
Duke Mayonnaise
Meet Tubby. The bold, saucy, and unhinged mayo equipped with a love for Duke’s and freakin’ crazy eyebrows. Searching for outlets to profess his devotion, Tubby made his debut earlier this year by hacking all of the Duke’s social media accounts. Fans welcomed him with open arms and Duke’s eventually offered him the position of mascot. Tubby never said yes, but also never said no.
Specific to mascots not affiliated with a professional sports team, college, high school, or corporation. Mascot program that sets itself apart in all that it does as compared against its peers and other affiliated programs.
Cosmo the Sheepdog
Olly the Otter
YoJo
Cosmo the Sheepdog
Cosmo the Sheepdog got his start appearing at the 1997 All-Star Game for the MiLB South Atlantic League in Augusta, Georgia. Cosmo spent several years making appearances at minor league baseball venues and hosting mascot training camps. Several attendees have gone on to professional careers.
Based out of Charlottesville, Virginia, Cosmo also began appearing at area charity events such as Relay for Life, The American Heart Walk, Salvation Army, etc. Cosmo even appeared and trained mascots for the Charlottesville Tom Sox between 2015 & 2019. But it was his relationship with the local and statewide Special Olympics Virginia that quickly won his heart.
Cosmo has been invited to participate at MANY Special Olympic events for the past 25 years at either local, regional, and many state-wide events for Special Olympics Virginia. Whether it was the Pepsi 10K, Regional Basketball Opening Ceremony, State Summer Games, or others, the athletes knew that Cosmo would be there. You could say that Special Olympics Virginia more or less adopted Cosmo as their personal mascot, and the feelings were mutual.
When COVID hit, Cosmo participated in the Special Olympics Virginia Virtual Torch Run, coming in 5th place in the fund-raising campaign! Cosmo also helped other charitable organizations throughout COVID to keep peoples spirits up.
In 2022 it was time for Cosmo to retire so he reached out to Special Olympics and asked if they would again join him for his “Last Ride” during the Dogwood Festival Parade in April of this year. Sure enough, everyone had a wonderful time. The pictures in the video cover his entire career with the last third from this past year in support of Special Olympics. Cosmo is honored to be considered for this recognition.
Olly the Otter
Olly Otter is the official mascot of Kid's Day of Lexington, a non profit that exists to educate families on issues surrounding health, safety, and environmental awareness with lots of love and laughter!
Olly oversees Kid's Day of Lexington's program; Meaningful Play. Through play, Olly motivates and aids in his Warriors healing! Olly's Warriors are children who are battling cancer or other serious, long-term illnesses. Olly visits them at their homes whenever they need a pick me up. Through short Ollygrams or longer Heal-Through-Play dates, Olly brings much needed laughter and joy to motivate them to keep battling hard and heal their mind, heart, and spirits! Meaningful Play is 2 years old and currently serves 45 families.
This past year we've made an impact on these families in multiple ways. What we hear most from parents is, "we haven't seen our child this active in a long time!" Olly has provided a lot of happiness in these families' darkest times, celebrations at mile stones or bell ringings, and motivation to be a strong Warrior.
YoJo
YoJo is a 7-foot blue fuzzy character that stars in his very own traveling educational kids’ comedy program called “The YoJo Show!”
With over 4,500 performances in 27 states, The YoJo Show is the most successful mascot-based school assembly program – Ever!
These past years have posed many challenges for YoJo and his crew given COVID restrictions. In fact, from March 2020 to October of 2021, his production went dark.
Fortunately, The YoJo Show was awarded a special “Shuttered Venue Operators Grant” from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Those grant funds were used to purchase a 30-foot on-stage set and a brand-new … outfit of shiny blue fur!
YoJo and his crew traveled extensively this past school year to spread smiles and educate students from New York City to Alabama. YoJo’s school show topics include reading motivation, anti-bullying, test-taking strategies, and health & fitness.
His persistence and determination during these tough times is in true spirit of the entertainer’s motto: “The show must go on.” YoJo is worthy of being the best independent mascot for 2022!
Also new for this year is YoJo’s completely redone website: www.YoJo.com
Specific to live animal mascot programs at the collegiate levels, including all NCAA Divisions and NAIA programs. The program that best embodies its university or school and positively enhances the institutions mission.
Nominees - College Live Animal Program
Butler Blue IV
Handsome Dan XIX
Reveille IX
Smokey X
Traveler
UGA X
Butler Blue IV
Butler University - NCAA - Big East Conference
Butler Blue IV is the embodiment of what it means to not just be a top tier live mascot, but a mascot in general. Founded on the values of accessibility, innovation, and joy; Blue brings a large social media following and jam-packed appearance calendar to the table. Touted as the hardest working mascot in the NCAA you will not just see Blue on the sidelines at games, but also in the community visiting elementary schools, hosting charity galas, and serving on hospital therapy dog teams. Oh and did we mention he drives his own mustang now? You are going to want to watch that video.
He doesn’t need justification. Handsome Dan is literally THE OG live animal college mascot and should get his dues by being honored.
He’s been active since 1889 and still shows up to events so I think you should give it to him.
Reveille IX
Texas A&M University - NCAA - SEC
Smokey X
University of Tennessee - NCAA - SEC
Smokey X, the live Bluetick Coonhound seen on the sidelines of every Volunteers football game, is the iconic live mascot for the University of Tennessee. During halftime of the Tennessee vs. Mississippi State football game in 1953, the UT pep club hosted a competition to choose the University's mascot. When "Blue Smokey," a locally owned and award-winning bluetick, was introduced, the hound howled and the student section erupted. The more the students cheered, the more the hound howled, and the rest was history. The University of Tennessee had its mascot. Ever since then, Smokey has been the team leader, being the first to run through the famous T that opens for the football team to enter the field before every game on Saturdays in the fall.
Since then, another tradition was born. The agriculture fraternity Alpha Ghamma Rho became the caretakers and handlers for Smokey. Members of the fraternity apply to be handlers for the live mascot and 2-3 are chosen each year. While Smokey lives with a family in Knoxville, descendants of the original owner, he stays in the fraternity house being treated like a king on game weekends and when Smokey is needed for an appearance on campus or in the community.
Smokey's synonymous status with campus life was forever engrained in 2019 when ten statues were unveiled across campus, one for each of the ten bluetick coonhounds that have served over the past almost 70 years. This football season is Smokey X's last season as he completes his tenure, the longest in history, and before he passes the baton to his son, Smokey XI. Smokey XI is in training and will take to the sidelines in 2023!
University of Southern California - NCAA - Pac-12 Conference
Traveler® first appeared at University of Southern California football games in 1961, in the home opener versus Georgia Tech. Earlier that year, Bob Jani and Eddie Tannenbaum (USC’s director of special events and a junior at USC, respectively) saw Richard Saukko riding his white horse, Traveler® I, in the Rose Parade. An idea sprang to mind! They persuaded Richard to bring his horse to ride around the Coliseum during USC football games, and serve as a mascot. The new tradition stuck! To this day, when USC scores, Traveler® gallops around the Coliseum to the tune of the band playing “Conquest”. Richard first rode Traveler® in the outfit worn by actor Charlton Heston in Ben Hur. That proved cumbersome, however, so in 1962 he crafted his own leather costume, modeled after the Tommy Trojan statue on the USC campus (that outfit is on display in Heritage Hall). But he still sometimes wore Heston’s helmet. Richard trained and rode USC’s equestrian mascots until 1988, when others took over the role of Tommy Trojan. After his passing in 1992, his wife Patricia continued the tradition of raising and training the famous Traveler® horses until she retired following the 2002 season. She asked Joanne Asman to take over with her own Traveler® 7 in 2003.
The current Trojan mascots is Traveler® IX, & Traveler X a beautiful Andalusian gelding. While the breed of horse has changed over the years (from an Arabian/Tennessee Walker to a pure-bred Arabian to a Spanish Andalusian), every Traveler® has been white in color. Joanne Asman who took over in 2003, has continued the Legacy. Traveler® was inducted into the University of Southern California Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Since taking over Joanne has provided 4 Travelers. Traveler VII ran from 2003 to 2019 until he was 28 years old and was forced to retire, Traveler VIII unfortunately passed away unexpectedly just after coming on Board in 2018. Now we have Traveler IX and Traveler X who take turns either performing at the Games or at Personal Appearances.
In the fall of 2004, the late USC alumnus Bill Tilley (’61) and his wife, Nadine, donated permanent endowment to support Traveler®. Bill was Chairman and CEO of the Jacmar Companies, a multifaceted international restaurant and food service enterprise, and majority owner of the popular B.J.’s Restaurant and Brewery. Nadine is an avid breeder of champion Andalusian horses, and hopes that a future Traveler® will be bred at Tilley Andalusians (in Hidden Valley near Thousand Oaks), now known as “The Home of Traveler®.”
Trojan faithful swear Traveler® can affect the outcome of games, and he has been touted as one of greatest inspirational devices USC has for players. Richard once said, “(Former USC coach) John McKay didn’t want to admit that the horse had anything to do with his success, but he’d always give me a wink when he saw me waiting in the Coliseum tunnel.”
Joanne Asman who took over in 2003, has continued the Legacy. Traveler® was inducted into the University of Southern California Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Since taking over Joanne has provided 4 Travelers. Traveler VII ran from 2003 to 2019 until he was 28 years old and was forced to retire, Traveler VIII unfortunately passed away unexpectedly just after coming on Board in 2018. Now we have Traveler IX and Traveler X who take turns either performing at the Games or at Personal Appearances.
Traveler is the most beloved Mascot and the USC Alumni and students believe him to be the Best Mascot there is. Many students and sports players come to USC just to be near the Mascot.
The feeling of Trojan Family when Traveler takes the field is beyond any pride one could have.
UGA X
University of Georgia - NCAA - SEC
UGA X is the greatest live mascot in college football.
He is at every home game he's at every bowl game he even goes to the Heisman trophy ceremony.
Specific to live human mascot programs at the collegiate levels, including all NCAA Divisions and NAIA programs. The program that best embodies its university or school and positively enhances the institutions mission.
Lumberjacks
The Leprechaun
The Mountaineer
Lumberjacks
Stephen F. Austin State University - NCAA - Southland Conference
Whether he’s at a community event or in the national spotlight, our Lumberjack has a way of demanding respect. In 2014, ESPN included him in the “Top 10 mascots in college basketball.”
And ESPN gave another nod to the SFA Lumberjack during March Madness 2016, when the sports network declared him “The mascot you’d want on your side if you got into a fight.”
The Leprechaun
University of Notre Dame - NCAA - ACC
In keeping with the nickname Fighting Irish and the Irish folklore, the Leprechaun serves as the Notre Dame mascot.
The Notre Dame logo features a side view of the figure with his dukes up, ready to battle anyone that comes his way. The live version is a student, chosen annually at tryouts, dressed in a cutaway green suit and Irish country hat.
The Leprechaun brandishes a shillelagh and agressively leads cheers and interacts with the crowd, supposedly bringing magical powers and good luck to the Notre Dame team.
The Leprechaun wasn’t always the official mascot of Notre Dame – for years the team was represented by a series of Irish terrier dogs. The first, named Brick Top Shuan-Rhu, was donated by one Charles Otis of Cleveland and presented to Irish head coach Knute Rockne the weekend of the Notre Dame-Pennsylvania game Nov. 8, 1930.
A number of terriers later took the role of the school mascot, which usually took the name Clashmore Mike. The Clashmore Mike mascot last made an appearance on the cover of the 1963 Notre Dame Football Dope Book with coach Hugh Devore and captain Bob Lehmann.
The Leprechaun was named the official mascot in 1965.
The Mountaineer
West Virginia University - NCAA - Big 12 Conference
The Mountaineer is the most beloved of all West Virginia University traditions and symbolizes the proud and rich heritage of the Mountain State and its people. In keeping with the mission of West Virginia University as a land-grant institution, our Mountaineer commits to creating a diverse and inclusive culture that advances education, healthcare and prosperity by visiting and engaging with children in schools across rural West Virginia that historically have never been to a WVU sporting event or have never seen our flagship university mascot.
Wearing the heavy custom buckskins and real coonskin cap, the Mountaineer carries not just the weight of the uniform, but the weight of West Virginia on his/her shoulders. The Mountaineer attends NCAA football, basketball, and baseball games, as well as gymnastics, soccer, volleyball and wrestling matches, cheering on the Mountaineers in all venues. He/she also makes appearances at other sporting events, including WVU Club Sports. Today, the Mountaineer attends more than 350-400 events per year outside the realm of athletic functions, appearing at schools, hospitals, civic organizations and more.
What makes the Mountaineer Mascot unique compared to others is the fact that every year a new individual will serve in the position. For other mascots, an individual changes his/her personality to portray that of the character. The Mountaineer Mascot position, however, allows any individual to let their unique personality shine as they carry on the responsibilities. For other schools, the person becomes the mascot; at WVU, the mascot becomes the person. This allows the Mountaineer to be well known throughout the fanbase, even after their term is over and they become a functioning member of society.
A constant objective of West Virginia University is to increase the pride of West Virginians in themselves and in our Mountain State. We are constantly reminded of the strength and courage of the people in our state and our Mountaineer Mascot position has preserved this tradition for future generations.
The City of Whiting is located on the south shore of Lake Michigan, with scenic lakefront views of downtown Chicago. Midway Airport, the South Side of Chicago, and Downtown Chicago are all located within a 30-minute drive of Whiting. For more information about the City of Whiting, please visit WhitingIndiana.com.
The Kicks4Kids campaign lives and is run solely by the mascot program. This is year two of the program.
