User:GhostRiver/phanatic
History[edit]
Creation[edit]
Introduction[edit]
The Phillie Phanatic made his first public appearance on April 23, 1978, when he and Phillies player Tim McCarver appeared as guests on Captain Noah and His Magical Ark.[1] He made his in-game debut two days later, when the Phillies faced the Chicago Cubs at theri home ballpark of Veterans Stadium.[2] The team decided not to publicly announce the Phanatic, but "to just let him appear", because "These were the Phillies' fans – you weren't gonna force them into anything."[3]
Lawsuit[edit]
Characteristics[edit]
Physical description[edit]
The Phanatic, in costume, stands 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) and weighs 300 pounds (140 kg), with a waist circumference of 90 inches (230 cm).[4]
Portrayers[edit]
Performance[edit]
Popular reception[edit]
A number of legal incidents involving the Phanatic at games and other appearances have led to the character being labeled as "the most-sued mascot" in MLB. These incidents included knocking over a man in 1991, accidentally kicking a pregnant woman in the stomach in 1993, and hugging a man hard enough to cause injury in 1994.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ Rowan, Tommy (July 25, 2017). "Before the Phanatic, the Phillies had animatronic twins". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- ^ Amour, Lauren (December 15, 2021). "How the Phillie Phanatic Came to be America's Favorite Sports Mascot". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- ^ Osband, Noam (July 12, 2019). "From Muppets To MLB: Bonnie Erickson, The Phillie Phanatic ... And Dandy". WBUR-FM. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- ^ "Phillie Phanatic". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ Jarvis, Robert M.; Coleman, Phyllis (May 2002). "Hi-Jinks at the Ballpark: Costumed Mascots in the Major Leagues". Cardozo Law Review. 23 (5): 1635–1674. Retrieved November 15, 2021.