10 Goofiest Mascots in MLB

In most sports, certain teams will have a mascot who interacts with the crowd and fires them up during the game.  The Baltimore Ravens have Poe, the Phoenix Suns have a gorilla who dunks basketballs and in baseball, who hasn't had nightmares about the Phillie Phanatic (pictured)?

Not all of the teams in baseball have mascots, but those who do have costumed representatives who are sure to provide the fans with some wacky entertainment.  From the Phanatic himself to Mr. Met, mascots provide the fans with some in-between innings entertainment that borders on the awesome to the just plain awkward.  Still, they're total goofballs, and we love them for just that reason.

Thus, here are the 10 goofiest mascots in major league baseball.

Honorable Mention: Wally the Green Monster

Although I'm a Yankees fan, I can't help but love the mascot for the Boston Red Sox, Wally the Green Monster.  The guy looks like the product of a Muppet and one of the Ninja Turtles having a child together, and he's just a world class dork who has entertained the fans since 1997.

Whether it's psyching fans up with his enthusiastic sign language or dancing on the dugouts at Fenway Park, Wally is fun to watch and has the seal of approval of former Red Sox player and current NESN broadcaster Jerry Remy.  He may be a literal monster, but he's easily one of the most lovable souls in baseball.

10. The Swinging Friar

Most people think that the official mascot of the San Diego Padres is the world famous San Diego Chicken, but that's actually not true.  The team's mascot is none other than the Swinging Friar, who walks around with a bat and just does goofy swings all game.

When he's not doing that, the Friar can be found showcasing his fine dance moves to songs like "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" or "Twist and Shout" as the crowd claps for him and dances along.  In other cases, the cartoony mascot can be found swinging a flag in the upper deck and then ringing a bell.

Either way, no matter how you look at him, the fun-loving Friar is one of the fans' favorite goofy mascots.

9. The Pirate Parrot

Here we have what is quite possibly the simplest mascot on the list.  The name of Pittsburgh's baseball team is the Pirates, and what do most pirates have on their shoulders?  Parrots, of course.

This feathered friend of the fans has two major schticks: dancing around with some gyrating hip motions and getting involved in the Great Pierogi Race at PNC Park.  However, what puts him among the goofy greats is that on occasion, he will shoot hot dogs into the crowd.  And here I was thinking that t-shirts were the only thing you could shoot out of an air cannon.

That being said, I only have one more remark.  Extra mustard and hot sauce on mine, please, Parrot!

8. The Mariner Moose

For a long time, I thought that the only cool moose out there was Bullwinkle.  Then I discovered the Mariner Moose.

This antlered character just goes around Safeco Field with that goofy grin of his, be it while driving an ATV around the warning track or getting water dumped on him by some guys in the bullpen.  He's also got some pretty sick dance moves, as evidenced in the video to the left.

The Mariner Moose is also highly involved in the Seattle community, so on top of being a goof, he is one who knows how to reach out to the fans both on and off the field.

Finally, how can we do this list and not include a moose, which is just a goofy animal to begin with?

7. Gapper and Friends

The Cincinnati Reds are a fun team to watch, but their mascots are probably three of the weirdest you'll ever see in your life.  The trio consists of Mr. Redlegs, Rosie Red, and Gapper, who show up to Great American Ballpark for the sole purpose of entertaining the fans.

Let's start with Mr. Redlegs, who has the creepy baseball-shaped head to go with some giant bug-eyes and an old-timey mustache.  He's been known to ride an ATV around the stadium, but I'm not going to lie.  I'd be too distracted by that face to notice any ATV tricks.

Then we have his companion, Miss Rosie Red.  She looks sweet and gives off something of a Betty Boop vibe.

Finally, we have Gapper.  To be absolutely blunt, he looks like a Sesame Street puppet gone wrong combined with some sort of dog, but he sure can dance.

And when you get these three in the room together, just watch as the goofiness ensues.

6. Mr. Met

Like Mr. Redlegs, Mr. Met is another one of those mascots who has a giant baseball for a head complete with a goofy smile.  He looks like he stepped out of some 1960s cartoon, and I'll admit, the look is a bit dated.  Yet, even as a Yankees fan, I love the guy.

His mascot antics are typical, as in launching t-shirts into the crowd, walking around the stadium to mess around with the fans and of course, dancing on the dugout.  Yet, when it comes to leading the fans in "Take Me Out To The Ballgame," I've never seen a more enthusiastic conductor.

5. Bernie the Brewer and His Sausage Friends

Milwaukee is known as "Beer City," so it's only fitting that the team be called the Brewers and one of their mascots be called Bernie Brewer.  This mustachioed mascot has become known for going down his legendary slide whenever the Brewers hit a home run, and though you can't see him that well in the video to the left, you can appreciate the novelty of the ritual and how much the fans love it.

Joining Bernie among the Brewers' mascots are the famous sausages, who have been part of the team's tradition for nearly 20 years.  These characters will race around the warning track to the roars of the fans, and despite an unfortunate incident with former Pirates first baseman Randall Simon, they continue to do so today.

I can understand letting kids run around the warning track at the end of games, but pierogies in Pittsburgh and sausages in Milwaukee?  That's just too hilarious for words.

4. Billy the Marlin

For the longest time, the Marlins refused to spend big money on their players, including those on the team and also free agents.  However, they had no problem keeping an eight-foot-tall marlin named Billy on the payroll as the team's mascot.

Putting aside his ridiculous appearance, Billy the Marlin is just plain hysterical.  I don't know if it's the freakishly big head, his dance moves or the fact that he just seems to pop up at the most random locations, but he's a Grade-A goofball and in my book, that's OK.

Now if only the Yankees could find a way to hire him away...

3. The Phillie Phanatic

I've been watching baseball for most of my life and to this day, I still don't understand the Phillie Phanatic.  What is he?  A bird?  A Muppet?  Either way, the fans love him, and his behavior is just plain odd—and awesome.

The green behemoth rides around the stadium on an ATV and just has tons of fun with the fans, be it mocking the opposition or doing suggestive dances in front of the opposition.  He's recently increased his repertoire to crazy costumes, as the video to the left will showcase.  Thus, while he's definitely one of the strangest mascots in the game, the Phillie Phanatic is easily the only one who changes his schtick regularly.

Considering how most mascots are married to one routine, I'm impressed at how he always tries to take his goofiness to new levels.

2. Dinger

When the Colorado Rockies made their debut in 1993, there were many things they could have done in terms of mascots.  They could have had a mountain man as a salute to the Rocky Mountains or maybe even a mountain lion of some sort.

Instead, team ownership chose to use a purple Triceratops dinosaur named Dinger (after the home run term) to represent the team and entertain the fans.  He looks like one of Barney the Dinosaur's long-lost friends, but I must say, Dinger's got some moves.

I'll be the first to admit that I think dinosaurs are cool and that having one as a mascot is awesome.  Yet, as cool as Dinger may be, he just looks goofy with his purple coloring and the spots on his tail.  Still, the fans love him, especially kids.

1. Raymond the Ray

Raymond, the mascot for the Tampa Bay Rays, is apparently a "seadog."  I'm sorry, but there's nothing about his appearance that suggests he comes from the sea or is a member of the canine family.

Look at this close-up of him here.  He looks like something Dr. Seuss drew but didn't end up using.  Poor Raymond then went to try to become a Muppet, but that failed as well and now he dances for fans at Tropicana Field.  Despite his definitively goofy appearance, he clearly seems to enjoy what he's doing.

On top of that, his "rivalry" with Wally the Green Monster is pretty adorable too.