Phillies Phanatic

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Bill Giles originally intended the Phanatic to draw more families to Veterans Stadium, though he later called losing the copyright a mistake. The team initially paid $3,900 for the costume while Harrison/Erickson retained ownership; five years later, after Giles bought the franchise, they paid $250,000 to secure the copyright. Originally worn by left-handed David Raymond until 1993, the role passed to right-handed Tom Burgoyne, who maintains he is merely the Phanatic's 'best friend' to preserve the illusion of a real creature. A significant lawsuit in August 2019 led to a 2022 redesign featuring lighter-green fur and arm-scales. The Phillies regained full rights via settlement before the 2022 season. The Phanatic's biography places his birthplace in the Galápagos Islands, where he has relatives like Phoebe, Phred, and Phiona.

In Their Own Story

On a September day in 1982, Cardinals outfielder Lonnie Smith tackled the Phanatic mid-game after growing frustrated with the mascot's taunts. Similarly, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda assaulted the creature in 1988 during a nationally televised game after the Phanatic stomped on a dummy of his uniform. In 2004, the Phanatic's head went missing during a charity auction until Bernard Bechtel was arrested for bringing it to a radio station. The mascot has also been 'dyed' red multiple times for the 'Paint the Town Red' promotion, including raising over $4,000 in 2007 for smoke alarms at a Philadelphia Fire Department station. His favorite umpire was Eric Gregg, who often danced with him between innings. Opposing players frequently steal his ATV keys in retaliation for his antics, such as dancing provocatively in front of their dugouts or smashing batting helmets.

Reader's Guide

Fans can expect the Phanatic to ride an ATV while shooting hot dogs into the stands and performing regular routines before games and between innings. He wanders the stadium mocking opposition supporters, warming up in the bullpen, and visiting broadcast booths to prank announcers with popcorn or Silly String. A unique tradition involves buffing the heads of bald fans sitting near him. Between halves of the seventh inning, he climbs the dugout roof for 'The Phanatic Dance' to 'hex' opposing pitchers. In 2015, four inflatable sidekicks known as the 'Galápagos Gang'—Sid the Sea Lion, Bessie the Blue-footed Booby, Calvin the Giant Tortoise, and Iggy the Iguana—were introduced. The Phanatic has appeared in numerous media spots, including 'The Simpsons,' 'Rocky Balboa,' and a 2013 MasterCard commercial with Mr. Met to raise cancer funds.

Did You Know?

• The initial costume cost $3,900, and the team later paid $250,000 to secure full copyright ownership.
• David Raymond, the original performer, was left-handed, while his successor Tom Burgoyne is right-handed, a change that occurred despite Raymond's wishes.
• In 1988, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda staged a comedic skit with the Phanatic on national TV, where the mascot stomped on a dummy of his uniform.
• The Phanatic's official biography states he was born in the Galápagos Islands.