World Series 2026: Bernie Brewer vs. Raymond

The 2026 World Series Mascot Showdown for a First Championship

Bernie Brewer and Raymond have never celebrated a World Series title, and neither has the franchise they cheer for. That changes this week. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 tonight, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX (FOX Sports), and one of these two mascots will soon be riding in a championship parade for the first time.

The 2026 World Series: Two Franchises, Zero Titles

This is the first World Series since 1980 between two franchises that have never won it, when the Phillies beat the Royals. It is only the eighth World Series ever to pit two first-time-title seekers against each other (MLB.com).

Five MLB franchises have never won a championship: the Brewers, Rays, Padres, Rockies and Mariners. That list drops to four when this series ends.

Both clubs also got here on small budgets. According to the AP, it’s the first World Series since 1991 with two teams from the bottom half of the payrolls. Milwaukee swept the Dodgers in the NLCS, and Tampa Bay beat Cleveland in the ALCS.

Did you know? Milwaukee’s $146.2 million payroll and Tampa Bay’s $95.6 million add up to less than the Dodgers’ $339.3 million.

Bernie Brewer: The Milwaukee Brewers Mascot Who Started as a Real Fan

A fan on a scoreboard

Bernie Brewer began as a real person. In June 1970, a 69-year-old retired aviation engineer named Milt Mason vowed to live in a trailer atop the County Stadium scoreboard until the young Brewers drew a big crowd. The goal was eventually lowered to 40,000. After about 40 days, Mason came down in August 1970 by sliding down a rope, and he burned his hands doing it (MLB.com).

Mason died on June 12, 1973. The Brewers introduced the mustachioed Bernie Brewer character that same year as a tribute, with a chalet and beer mug that debuted at the April 14, 1973 home opener

The slide, and a nine-year timeout

When a Brewer hits a home run, Bernie celebrates with a slide, continuing his history-making. The first slide marked a homer by infielder Pedro Garcia. Today, Bernie works from Bernie’s Dugout in left field at American Family Field and takes a big yellow slide (Shepherd Express).

Bernie hasn’t been there every season, though. The chalet came down during stadium renovations in 1984, and the mascot retired, then returned in 1993. He served during Milwaukee’s only World Series appearance before 1993, when the Brewers lost to the Cardinals in seven games.

Did you know? This was Milwaukee’s first World Series appearance as a National League team and its first in 44 years.

Bernie’s backup: the Famous Racing Sausages

Bernie doesn’t work alone. The first live Racing Sausages race took place June 27, 1993, at County Stadium, with three runners: Bratwurst, Polish, and Italian (WUWM). Hot Dog joined later in the 1990s. Chorizo debuted in 2006 on the team’s first Cerveceros Day and became a regular in 2007. A championship parade would give the whole sausage squad something to relish.

Raymond: The Tampa Bay Rays Mascot and Official Seadog

Discovered on a fishing trip

Raymond has an origin story the Rays are happy to share. In early 1998, team scouts spotted a strange-looking animal on a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. He made his debut on June 21, 1998, before a Devil Rays–Red Sox game at Tropicana Field. The team classifies him as a “seadog,” species name Canus Manta Whatthefluffalus.

Raymond has been barking up this championship tree for 29 seasons. He has watched the Rays lose two World Series: to the Phillies in 2008 and to the Dodgers in 2020.

The cat with the turntable

Raymond has company. DJ Kitty started as a Rays video-board character that went viral in 2010. A costumed version debuted in February 2012 at Rays Fan Fest (NESN).

Did you know? Raymond isn’t the only sea dog in baseball’s mascot world. Slugger, the Portland Sea Dogs’ harbor seal, entered the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2023.

Where Bernie Brewer and Raymond Stand in the Mascot Hall of Fame

Neither mascot has been inducted. Both would be eligible, since the Hall requires at least 10 years of service, and neither appears in the inductee list through the Class of 2026.

Name coincidence: the Hall’s founder is David Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic performer from 1978 to 1993.

Scorecard: Bernie Brewer vs. Raymond

One of them will finally have a title to celebrate. “First ring” is a figure of speech here, since the clubs decide who actually receives championship rings.