MLB Power Rankings: Breaking Down Baseball's Best Mascots

In order to rank the mascots in baseball, I am going to score them on three 10-point scales:

1) Is the name good / How do they relate to baseball?

2) How do they relate to their city/organization? 

3) How do they look?

At the end of the day, this is just a fun ranking system without any true meaning, but I figured why not have fun with it.

Let the debating begin!

29,30: New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers

1) Is the name good / How do they relate to baseball: 0/10

2) How do they relate to their city/organization: 0/10

3) How do they look: 0/10

These are two of the classiest organizations in all of baseball. The only problem for this list is that they do not have mascots.

They are two organizations that will sell tickets whether they have a mascot or not, and I do not see them adding one anytime soon.  

Overall Rating: 0

28. Chicago Cubs: Ronnie 'Woo Woo' Wickers

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 8/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 7/10

3) How does it look: 8/10

"Woo Woo" is not a necessarily a mascot, so he does not qualify for this list, but when Cubs legend Harry Caray gives you a nickname ("Leather Lungs"), you get an honorable mention

Having gone to multiple Cubs games myself, it really is incredible that you can hear him cheering throughout the stadium no matter where you sit for pretty much the entire game.

He embodies the passion that is Cubs baseball. 

Overall Rating: 23 (disqualified)

27. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Rally Monkey

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 3/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 2/10

3) How does it look: 0/10

A monkey has never gotten so popular so quickly.

In the Angels' World Series run back in 2002, they were down 3-2 in the series against the Giants and when they were down 5-0 in the seventh inning of Game 6, they turned to the rally monkey. After scoring six runs and eventually winning the World Series in seven games, the monkey's popularity took off.

It became such a country-wide phenomenon that he was included in an ESPN commercial and a prominent Angels blog named itself after the monkey.

The monkey comes in this low on the list because I do not consider him to be an actual "mascot."

Overall rating: 5

26. Minnesota Twins: T.C. Bear

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 3/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 4/10

3) How does it look: 0/10

The sad part for the Twins is that their mascot was designed after a sponsor (Hamm's Beer).

The first name T.C. is a nice touch—referring to "Twin Cities"—but it does not make up for the fact a bear has nothing to do with baseball and everything to do with money. 

Overall Rating: 7

25. Atlanta Braves: Homer

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 5/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 0/10

3) How does it look: 5/10

The reason the Braves are this low because it is essentially Mr. Met with a Braves uniform on.

Where is the creativity in that?

Overall rating: 7 (minus 3 points for stealing the look)

24. Arizona Diamondbacks: Baxter the Bobcat

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 4/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 3/10

3) How does it look: 0/10

A bobcat? Really?

The reasons why he was created make sense. D. Baxter sounds like D-Backs, and BOBcat came from the original stadium name Bank One Ballpark (BOB), but since the stadium is now Chase Field, it just seems really out of place. 

The thought was there, but I still hate the idea of naming a mascot after a sponsor. 

Overall rating: 7

23. Houston Astros: Junction Jack

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 1/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 6/10

3) How does it look: 2/10

I like the fact that Junction Jack is dressed up as a railroad engineer because it goes right along with the railroad tracks in Minute Maid Park. 

However, there is no real history involved with the team and without a uniform or team logo, you would have no idea it was a baseball team's mascot. If there is no specific relationship with the team, it cannot be that high on this list.

Overall Rating: 9

22. Oakland Athletics: Stomper

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 2/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 6/10

3) How does it look: 3/10

The A's have a nice story behind using an elephant, going way back to the days of Connie Mack. 

Even still, while I am not exactly sure what an "Athletic" is, I would have thought the A's could have come up with something a little bit more baseball-related.

Overall rating: 11

21. Cleveland Indians: Slider

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 4/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 3/10

3) How does it look: 5/10

Slider earned a spot in the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2008, so he could not fall too far down the list. 

Slider is a great name, but I am not quite sure why he is purple and yellow as compared to red and blue to coincide with the Indians colors.

Overall Rating: 14 (plus 2 Mascot HOF Bonus)

20. Chicago White Sox: Southpaw

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 3/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 6/10

3) How does it look: 6/10

The team from the South Side of Chicago came up with a creative nickname to incorporate its city into its mascot. 

While I am not quite sure why Southpaw is green and yellow when the White Sox are black and white, I don't think families or little kids would have been clamoring to take pictures with a big white sock. 

Overall Rating: 15

19. Tampa Bay Rays: Raymond

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 2/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 7/10

3) How does it look: 5/10

Finally, a mascot that matches his team's colors. 

RAYmond does not necessarily look like a baseball mascot, so it would have been cool to see the Rays organization try and make a mascot with a stingray in it, but at this point in the list I cannot get too picky. 

Overall Rating: 15

18. Pittsburgh Pirates: Captain Jolly Roger, Pirate Parrot

1) Is the name good / How do they relate to baseball: 4/10

2) How do they relate to their city/organization: 7/10

3) How do they look: 6/10

The Pirates get credit for having two good mascots. 

While the Pirate Parrot does not really have anything to do with the Pirates logo or baseball, he gets the crowd involved and the fans pumped up. When he is not around, they have Captain Jolly Roger for fans looking for the Pirate look.

Overall Rating: 17

17. Kansas City Royals: Sluggerrr

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 4/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 7/10

3) How does it look: 7/10

The name is nothing special, but I love the look.

The crown on top of Sluggerrr's head is a really nice touch and was a creative way to incorporate the "Royal" part of KC's name into their mascot.

Overall Rating: 18

16. Texas Rangers: Rangers Captain

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 4/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 8/10

3) How does it look: 6/10

Cowboys/Rangers and horses are a solid theme to build off of, so I think the Rangers did well here. He wears the number 72 because that is the year the organization relocated to Texas, so that is another nice touch relating to the city.

In addition, he always looks good because he has multiple uniforms to always match whatever the Rangers are wearing on the field.

Overall Rating: 18

15. Toronto Blue Jays: Ace, Junior

1) Is the name good / How do they relate to baseball: 5/10

2) How do they relate to their city/organization: 7/10

3) How do they look: 7/10

The Blue Jays mascots are great.

They are actually Blue Jays, so even if you randomly saw it on the street for whatever reason, you would associate it with the baseball team (or at least a sports fan would).

The name Ace is also extremely appropriate, so they did a lot of things right with their mascot.

Overall Rating: 19

14. Washington Nationals: Screech, Presidents

1) Is the name good / How do they relate to baseball: 3/10

2) How do they relate to their city/organization: 10/10

3) How do they look: 7/10

The Running of the Presidents is one of the most well-known events for mascots throughout baseball. The Nats took the running of the sausages and added an incredible twist for their own organization.

As for Screech, their regular mascot, they again took to their city and the culture behind it and used the bald eagle, an American symbol. A great job all around in Washington. 

Overall Rating: 20

13. Colorado Rockies: Dinger

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 5/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 8/10

3) How does it look: 7/10

Doesn't that look like a friendly dinosaur!

Not only that, a triceratops is a great fit because they found a seven-foot-long, 1,000-pound triceratops skull during the construction of Coors Field. 

Dinger matches the Rockies colors and looks like a huge stuffed animal that kids would want to play with. 

Colorado did a nice job here in turning a hard nickname (Rockies) into a great mascot.

Overall Rating: 20

12. Cincinnati Reds: Gapper, Mr. Redlegs, Rosie Red

1) Is the name good / How do they relate to baseball: 6/10

2) How do they relate to their city/organization: 7/10

3) How do they look: 8/10

The fact that the Reds have three mascots actually brings them down a bit in my opinion. Just Mr. Redlegs would be a nice touch, simply because of the mustache, but having said that, Gapper and Rosie Red do add a nice touch and keep the families and little kids involved.

Overall Rating: 21

11. Seattle Mariners: Mariner Moose

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 4/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 10/10

3) How does it look: 6/10

The Mariners did this right and they deserve some recognition.

When deciding what their mascot should be, they held a contest for kids 14 and under to create a mascot and they received 2500 entries, making their mascot even more impressive.

Overall Rating: 22 (plus 2 Fan Vote Bonus)

10. Baltimore Orioles: The Oriole Bird

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 5/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 10/10

3) How does it look: 8/10

The Oriole actually hatched out of an egg at Memorial Stadium, their home ballpark, in 1979, which is a great PR move. 

The mascot looks like an oriole, matches the team's colors and has been a part of the team's history for more than 30 years. All good things for a quality organization.

Overall Rating: 23

9. Miami Marlins: Billy the Marlin

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 7/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 10/10

3) How does it look: 8/10

The closer we get to the top, the more I have to nitpick, as it is hard to believe Billy the Marlin is outside the top five.

Billy actually is a marlin—his name comes from the fact that a marlin is a billfish—and he matches the team's colors. Even though it is not his fault, the he does not have a long history, and that slides him down the list.  

Overall Rating: 24

8. St. Louis Cardinals: Freebird

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 7/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 8/10

3) How does it look: 10/10

The Cardinals have a great history, and Freebird has been a part of it for over 30 years. He perfectly matches the logo on the jersey, and is known for "beaking" the heads of supporters, so he keeps the crowd involved in a friendly way. This is a great combination. 

Overall Rating: 25

7. San Diego Padres: Swinging Friar

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 5/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 10/10

3) How does it look: 10/10

One of the few teams to have a mascot for over 50 years, the Padres have had the Swinging Friar since 1958, when they were still a minor league organization.

His name is connected to the Padres, as he was named after the Spanish missionaries, who were important figures in originally creating the city of San Diego. In addition, he was on the team logo in 1984. 

Through thick and thin, the Friar has been with the Padres, and he deserves this high rank.

Overall Rating: 25

6. Milwaukee Brewers: Bernie Brewer, the Sausages

1) Is the name good / How do they relate to baseball: 5/10

2) How do they relate to their city/organization: 8/10

3) How do they look: 10/10

The numbers may not add up, but no mascots appear on SportsCenter more and they deserve some recognition for that. Whether it is Bernie going down the slide or the sausage race in between innings, the Brewers hit the nail on the head in attracting interest to their organization through their mascots.

Overall Rating: 25 (plus 2 SportsCenter Bonus)

5. Detroit Tigers: Paws

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 8/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 9/10

3) How does it look: 9/10

I love everything about the Tigers mascot. He is dressed up like an actual Tiger, the name Paws is awesome and from Tigers fans I have spoken to, he gets the fans involved every game.

What is not to like about that? 

Overall Rating: 26

4. Boston Red Sox: Wally the Green Monster

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 10/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 9/10

3) How does it look: 8/10

Even though he does not finish number one, Wally is my personal favorite on this list because his name is absolutely perfect. The Red Sox took possibly the greatest landmark in all of baseball in the "Green Monster" and turned it into a mascot.

They even found an applicable name in Wally, to turn a "Monster" into a fan favorite throughout Fenway.  

Overall Rating: 27

3. New York Mets: Mr. Met

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 10/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 8/10

3) How does it look: 10/10

Mr. Met was baseball's first live mascot and to this day remains one of the best.

He has appeared in numerous SportsCenter commercials, has a baseball for a head and has been a staple in the Mets organization's fanbase since they were created in the early '60s. 

Overall Rating: 28

2. San Francisco Giants: Lou Seal

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 7/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 8/10

3) How does it look: 13/10

I am not sure how you could pull a better mascot from such an obscure name. 

A "Giant" could be taken so many different ways, but with those sunglasses, no mascot has a better look and the name Lou Seal is as clever as any on this list. 

Overall Rating: 28

1. Philadelphia Phillies: Phillie Phanatic

1) Is the name good / How does it relate to baseball: 10/10

2) How does it relate to their city/organization: 10/10

3) How does it look: 10/10

The Phillie Phanatic is the best mascot in all of baseball.

Not only is his look ridiculous (in a good way), but he energizes Phillies fans in a way that I have never seen. In addition, I have seen him try to distract other teams' players, jump on opposing teams' dugouts and shake his waist around in a fashion that would inspire many.

As often as he has gotten on my nerves in the past, there is no denying how great a mascot he is.

Overall Rating: 30