Fans/Mascots

San Luis Obispo Blues
The San Luis Obispo Blues Baseball Club is one of California's oldest baseball teams. Heckling is encouraged at the games, as seen by the officially designated "patsy of the game". Here an opposing player is singled out for particularly intense abuse. A local Pub knocks 50 cents off selected beer prices after the game for each time the randomly selected "patsy" strikes out, a deal that creates some especially energetic heckling. "The hecklers have an incentive to get in the guy's head to get him to strike out," says bar owner Bill Hales. When late arrivals take their seats in the Peach Pit, one of the first things they do is ask who the patsy is and then join in the heckling. "Hey, patsy, I'm thirsty. Don't disappoint me".

Animals of Section B (FSU)
The Animals are a boisterous group of Florida State baseball fans dating back to 1977. This well-organized group of 30-40 fans stake-out seats in Howser's Section B, above the visiting team's dugout. Membership entitles one to a handbook with chants, and a listing of song lyrics. The name 'Animals' originated in 1978, when Sol Carroll would bring stale donuts to Seminole Field to pass out to the fans. This tradition went on game after game, when finally these fans had enough and threw Sol's donuts right back at him. He called them a bunch of 'Animals' and the name stuck. The Animals use intimidation through noise to rattle the visiting team's psyche. They use cheers and songs to get the crowd and team into the game, and the visitor's out of theirs. They have established a reputation for originality, and general zaniness. They always attempt to show sportsmanship, and routinely congratulate opposing players when a good play is made. Recently, ESPNet Sportszone called The Animals "The best college baseball cheering section in the country."

The San Diego Chicken
(a.k.a. The Famous Chicken)
London, Ont., native Ted Giannoulas was a student at San Diego State University when a local radio station hired him to dress up in a chicken suit. His assignment was to pass out candy to children at the San Diego Zoo. He gained national attention when he performed his Chicken antics between innings at San Diego Padres games. Not only is he is recognized as the first pro mascot, he also pioneered the idea of using popular recorded music at games. Before The Chicken came onto the scene, all professional games merely featured live organ music. Today, soundtracks that are staples of so-called "stadium rock" have their roots from The Chicken's act in the 70's. The owners of Barney the Dinosaur, once sued the Chicken for copyright infringement because he had crated a Barney replica that he knocked around ballparks as a parody. Lawyers demanded $100,000 per appearance. The court sided with the Chicken. Official Website

Phillie Phanatic
David Raymond spent sixteen years as the Phanatic, and performed for over 2.5 million fans annually. During that time, he appeared in three World Series, toured Japan with a Major League All-Star team, and was called "the best mascot in baseball" by broadcaster Tim McCarver. In 1993, he left the Phillies to form Acme Mascots with his partners.

Crazy Crab
Created for the 1984 season, when the Giants were in dead-last place and the vast majority of Giants fans said they didn't want a mascot at all, "Crazy Crab", the pudgy, immobile hamburger with feet became a frequent target of abuse from fans. Crazy Crab was marketed as a satire of prevailing mascots at the time. He was meant to be hated and was perfect in his role as the anti-mascot. They would trot him out once per game specifically to be booed and pelted with peanut shells, the typically small crowds of the time obliged whole-heartedly.

Bleacher Bums
Everybody who is a somebody in Chicago goes to Wrigley Field. A large part of this is due to the mystique of the Wrigley Field bleachers. Termed by one columnist as the worlds largest singles club, a study once found that 60 percent of the fans in the bleachers didn't even know who the Cubs were playing on the field. If New Yorks bleacher creatures intimidate opposing players into not wanting to return, Chicago's bleacher bums keep players coming back. Its not only due to the sights they see either, "You get some good one-liners out there. Sometimes you wish you had a pad to write them down." said Cubs outfielder Lance Johnson. There is an unwritten rule in the bleachers that an opponent's home run ball must be rejected immediately, as though a live hand grenade had been lobbed into the stands. In fact, even homers hit OUT of the stadium are rejected, often coming back INTO the stadium from the street. It should be noted that that fans usually bring old balls with them to the park and throw these back, keeping the game-balls as souvenirs. By the way, Wrigley's left-field bleacher seats have an absolutely incredible view.

The Wave
The most reliable story has the Wave traced back to the University of Washingtons Husky Stadium. It was October 31, 1981 when a male cheerleader was on the sidelines and instructed the Washington crowd to start in one section and make a human wave that rolled around Husky Stadium. The original Wave saw Husky fans remain standing until a full circle was completed in the stadium. The original idea was to have the crowd stand rapidly from the lowest seats to the highest. But they could not effectively coordinate the attempts. The Wave is believed to have started in the third quarter as the Huskies reeled off 28 points in route to a 42-31 win over the John Elway led Stanford team. Similar cheers had happened at Washington State University basketball games in the late 1970's. The wave as we know it probably didn't evolve until Seahawk fans in the totally encircling Kingdome made it famous. After all, Husky Stadium is open-ended.

Bleacher Creatures (Section 39)
The Creatures are the crazy, wild, loud, rude, and foul mannered Yankee fans who regularly sit in section 39 of Yankee Stadium. The group traces its roots back to Ali Ramirez who made the right field bleachers famous by ringing a cowbell as the crowd clapped along. Today, this group is made up people from all walks of life who succeed in intimidating opposing outfielders with mostly obscene chants and heckles. In days past there were no police officers and almost anything went, however much of the raucous behavior has been curbed recently by laws. Warnings are posted all over the stadium and announcements are made throughout the game. The current Bleacher Creatures have created a roll call of Yankee starters before every game. Tina Lewis, one of the original founders, started the roll call by chanting Dave Winfield's name during a game until he responded. The roll call is now a tradition at "The single most Intimidating home field in all of sports".

Doris Day
In the 1962 movie entitled "That Touch of Mink." which featured special appearances by Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra, Doris is sitting in the Yankee Dougout watching a game. She hollers the classic line: "Hey ump, shake your head. Your eyeballs are stuck." Listen to the clip

Pete Adelis
Mr. Adelis was once affectionately known as the "Iron Lung of Shibe Park" being withouth question the dominant heckler in Philadelphia, a city still known for rowdy fans. Unfortunately, his heckling often had a nasty side. In 1942 Pete was put on the Phillies payroll and given instructions to hound Jackie Robinson, and any other black ballplayer who came through town, thus tarnishing his legacy - and that of the Phillie organization.

Robert S. Szasz
Rob is the resident heckler at quiet Tropicana Field with the voice of a thundering locomotive. If you've ever been to a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game, watched one on television, or even held a seashell to your ear on the beach, you've probably heard him heckle opposing players from his seat behind home plate. He has got into the head of most every opposing athlete that has stepped foot on his turf. He once wore a long black wig to a Boston game and heckled Johnny Damon so hard he went 1-for-15 in the series. Szasz heckled Seattle's Bret Boone so mercilessly that after Boone struck out he threw his batting helmet in the dugout and began yelling back at Szasz. Jose Guillen once good-naturedly offered Szasz a signed bat if he'd get off his back. Known as the Happy Heckler, he's written a book about heckling.

Banned T-Shirts at Safeco Field
Seattle's Safeco Field has a reputation for ejecting fans. Violations range from impolite heckling to improper attire. Recently, fans wearing t-shirts that had "Yankees Suck" printed on them were asked either to remove them or turn them inside out, or else face being ejected from the ballpark.

Hilda Chester
Perhaps the most famous fan in baseball history was a plump, pink-faced woman with a mop of stringy grey hair. Famous among Ebbets Field regulars, she would attend games with a frying pan and an iron ladle. Banging away on the frying pan from her seat in the bleachers, she made so much noise that everyone, including the players, noticed her. Dodger players in the late 1930s presented her with the first of her now-famous brass cowbells. Top

Players/Umps

Ron Luciano
The flamboyant ump was one of the most popular men to ever put on the Blue Tuxedo. Often the crowd would mimic his calls, all waving their arms in unison, and echoing his cry of YER OOOOUUUUT! Another trademark of his was his OUT call on the basepaths. Pointing at the baserunner with his index finger, he would cock his thumb as if to shoot him. Afterwards, Luciano would blow imaginary smoke away from his index finger and pretend to put his hand in a holster.
"I called a lot of baa-rikes and stri-alls."-R.Luciano

Bill Buckner
On Oct. 25, 1986, the Red Sox, ahead 3-2 in games, had a 5-3 lead over the Mets with two outs in the 10th inning and no-one on. Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez was already in the clubhouse, drowning his sorrows in a beer. The Shea Stadium scoreboard prematurely flashed its congratulations to the "World Champion Boston Red Sox." Then Gary Carter singled. Kevin Mitchell singled. Ray Knight singled to score Carter and make it 5-4. Stanley relieved Calvin Schiraldi and threw a wild pitch to score Mitchell. Then Mookie Wilson dribbled one toward Buckner. It went between his legs and the winning run scored. New York went on to win Game 7. As for Buckner, he is still dogged by taunts from fans.
"I'm standing and I can't fall down"
"Putt-Putt wants to hire you for their 9th hole"
If you ever come across Buckner, cheer him up by reminding him of the following:

• Rich Gedman failed to move for a catchable wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score.
• It was Stanley who threw the wild pitch and wouldn't have gotten to first base in time anyway if Buckner had fielded the ball cleanly.
• Schiraldi failed to hold the lead in Game 6 twice and then gave up the winning run in Game 7.

Top Heckles/Chants

"Sa-winggggbattabattabatta"
Made famous in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

"No Batter..No Batter..No Batter..Can't hit Can't run Can't field!"

"Daaaaaaa-rylllllll"
Originated in Boston during 1986 WS.

"We're not worthy!"
This bowing craze can trace its modern roots back to SNL's Wayne's World

Top Promotions

10 Cent Beer Night
It promised to be a light-hearted occasion. Beer night complete with 10 cent beer and Indians baseball at Municipal stadium. Gradually as the innings went on the game turned at first comical as many fans loudly heckled Texas Ranger players, umpires and some streaked or ran on the field. Later the scene became ugly as people got hit by chairs, bottles and various other objects, the assault on the Texas bullpen so great that it had to be evacuated, hundreds of fans ran on the field, with several attempting to assault Texas players, and stadium security lost all hope of restoring order. Total control was lost in the ninth inning as the Indians tied the score at 5 and a couple of fans leaped on the field and tried to teal Jeff Burroughs cap. Players from both the Indians and Rangers joined forces to defend the outfielder. To augment the 50 officers at the stadium 40 other officers plus the Impact and tactical units from 4 police districts were called. A warm night, cheap beer and perpetually bad team turned out to be a dangerous mix.

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