'Unsung heroes': In Indiana, a quirky hall of fame honors sports mascots
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WHITING, Ind. -– To hear David Raymond put it, the opening of a brick-and-mortar home for the Mascot Hall of Fame ranks among the greatest events of his life. “It’s indescribable,” he says. “... It’s like the day I got married. It’s like when I'Unsung heroes': In Indiana, a quirky hall of fame honors sports mascots
WHITING, Ind. -– To hear David Raymond put it, the opening of a brick-and-mortar home for the Mascot Hall of Fame ranks among the greatest events of his life. “It’s indescribable,” he says. “... It’s like the day I got married. It’s like when I saw my kids being born. While those are above it, this is a real close second.” Raymond, 63, isn’t famous, but his former alter ego once was. As the original Phillie Phanatic, the chubby, long-nosed, furry green mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies, Raymond worked at old Veterans Stadium from 1978-93. He tooled around in his ATV, teased fans, playfully taunted opponents and wrestled Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. After putting on the costume for the final time, Raymond was instrumental in creating, developing, training and promoting mascots. Today, he runs a marketing company that specializes in branding for mascots. In 2005, he started an online Mascot Hall of Fame to honor great sports mascots. But Raymond dreamed of something bigger than simply a virtual home for m Read more