Best Unofficial Mascots in Sports

Love’em or hate’em, mascots have been a part of the American sports experience for over a century and that is not going to change. These days they’re as popular with fans as ever. 

In fact, mascots are so popular that very often, one simply isn’t enough. Most teams have an official mascot, but a number of them have adopted unofficial mascots along the way—some better than the original. 

Although, the kookiest unofficial mascots are usually the work of creative college students attending a school that, for one reason or another, are lacking in that department. Most emphasize comedic impact over rhyme and reason. 

Be they supplemental or created to fill a void, here are some of the best unofficial mascots in sports. 

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

YouTube

Mascot: Cayenne 

Team: University of Louisiana at Lafayette 

Although ULL are known as the Ragin’ Cajuns, according to the university’s website, “A Ragin’ Cajun is not a person or an animal, but a feeling that describes our unique way of life.” Since it’s hard to physically embody a feeling, a demonic pepper man known as Cayenne stands in as the unofficial mascot and “spirit leader” at football games. 

Chicago White Sox

YouTube

Mascot: Phil the Chimp

Team: Chicago White Sox 

Phil the Chimp, a stuffed monkey who was adopted by a few White Sox players over the summer as the team’s unofficial mascot, isn’t particularly inspired, but he’s still a step up. The team’s official mascot is “Southpaw,” which looks like the really boring cousin of the Phillie Phanatic. 

Washington Nationals

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Mascot: The Presidents 

Team: Washington Nationals

The Nationals official mascot is an eagle named Screech that looks more like a chicken, particularly in its cartoon version. The Racing Presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt—that compete during games are a much bigger deal amongst the fans. 

Purdue University

Mascot: Rowdy 

Team: Purdue University 

Purdue’s official mascot is a weird dude named Purdue Pete, a creepy Boilermaker who is always carrying a sledgehammer. From 1997-2007 Pete had an awesome inflatable sidekick named Rowdy, an unofficial mascot that was 10-feet tall. Damage to his costume forced Rowdy into retirement a few years ago, but the university has left the door open for an eventual (and no doubt triumphant) return. 

Chicago Cubs

facebook.com/CubsIvyMan

Mascot: Ivy Man

Team: Chicago Cubs 

Inspired by the iconic ivy that adorns the outfield walls at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ivy Man is the creation of Cubs fan Ward Tannhauser, who has been an unofficial mascot for years now. Which is great, because those poor souls need all the distractions they can find. 

Memphis Grizzlies

Mascot: Buckets

Team: Memphis Grizzlies 

Buckets Pondexter is the adorable Husky owned by Grizzlies forward Quincy Pondexter. Buckets became an unofficial mascot of sorts during the 2013 playoffs after a Sports Illustrated profile made him a breakout star. These days Buckets is such a baller that he has his own Twitter and Instagram account. 

Dartmouth College

YouTube

Mascot: Keggy the Keg

Team: Dartmouth College 

Dartmouth athletic teams are nicknamed “The Big Green,” but have never had an official mascot because, as is the case with the Stanford Cardinal, green is just a reference to the school color. “Keggy” was created by students in 2003, but the “anthropomorphic beer keg” has yet to win over the powers that be. Apparently they haven’t read his epic bio. 

Vancouver Canucks

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Mascot: Green Men

Team: Vancouver Canucks 

“Canuck” is a slang term that means Canadian, so naturally Vancouver’s official mascot is…an Orca? Fin the Whale is fine, but he’s simply no match for those menacing men in green spandex that are permanent fixtures outside the opposing penalty box. 

San Diego Chargers

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Mascot: Boltman 

Team: San Diego Chargers 

Years ago a Chargers fan named Dan Jauregui dreamed up and then literally brought to life Boltman, who has been the team’s unofficial mascot dating back to 1996. Although for years the man behind the mask was a mystery—Jauregui didn’t reveal his identify publicly until 2010. Boltman has changed a lot over the years, with his most recent overhaul coming in 2013. 

Rhode Island School of Design

YouTube

Mascot: Scrotie 

Team: Rhode Island School of Design 

For reasons that are not entirely clear to me, the Rhode Island School of Design’s hockey team has been known as the Nads for more than half a century. Because of that festive nickname, “Go Nads!” is the chant of choice in the cheering section at games. And because of that that festive chant, an unofficial, but widely embraced, mascot named Scrotie now exists and gleefully roams the RISD campus. 

Xavier University

Al Behrman/Associated Press

Mascot: Blue Blob

Team: Xavier University 

Xavier’s official mascot is D’Artagnan the Musketeer, but the Blue Blob was developed by a spirit squad coordinator back in 1985 because D’Artagnan was known to scare kids. The Blob started as an unofficial mascot, but has been promoted to secondary mascot in recent years. 

Pittsburgh Pirates

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Mascot: Racing Pierogies 

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates 

The Pirate Parrot is the official baseball mascot in Pittsburgh, but the Great Pierogi Racers that compete during the seventh inning stretch are unofficially one of the best things in baseball. Sauerkraut Saul, Cheese Chester, Jalapeño Hannah, Oliver Onion and Potato Pete have been entertaining Pirates fans since 1999. 

Stanford University

Reed Saxon/Associated Press

Mascot: The Tree

Team: Stanford University 

Stanford doesn’t have an official mascot, but the always entertaining Stanford Tree stands in admirably, attracting attention wherever it roams. The Tree is actually the marching band’s mascot and travels to all sporting events as part of it. 

Milwaukee Brewers

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Mascot: Hank the Dog

Team: Milwaukee Brewers 

Although the racing sausages are pretty popular as far as unofficial mascots go in Milwaukee, these days they, as well as Bonnie and Bernie Brewer, are all playing second fiddle to a cute little canine. Hank the Dog was adopted by a team executive during Brewers spring training in Arizona and has since become among players and fans alike. 

Delta State University

YouTube

Mascot: Fighting Okra 

Team: Delta State University 

Delta State’s official mascots are the unforgivably boring Statesmen and his wife, Lady Statesmen. The “Fighting Okra” began as a joke in the 80s by students who were not particularly moved by the school’s politically inspired mascots. These days the Okra is no joke—it has starred in a number of hilarious YouTube videos (like this, this, and this) and is more popular with the students than ever.