Today is National Mascot Day, a day to celebrate the iconic mascot figures and the luck they bring to teams, fans, and franchises. Philadelphia is home to some of the most iconic mascots in sports, but how well do you actually know these beloved figures?
Metro has the background info on the cast of characters that make up the Philly sports mascot scene.
Phillie Phanatic
What can be said about the Phillie Phanatic that has not already been said? Philadelphia’s iconic furry, green star is considered by many to be the best mascot in professional sports. The Phanatic originally hails from the Galápagos Islands and was among the first mascots to be inducted in the Mascot Hall of Fame, and the only Philadelphia professional sports mascot to be inducted to this day.
Standing six-foot-six and weighing 300 pounds of mostly fat (according to his Phillies bio), the Phanatic is not just a tall drink of water, but the certified greatest mascot, not just in Philadelphia, but in the entire sports world.
A Philadelphian through and through, the Phanatic eats a well-balanced diet, consisting of the five-Philadelphia food groups, cheesesteaks, Soft pretzels, hoagies, scrapple and Tastykakes. His favorite movie is ‘Rocky’ and his favorite songs are ‘Motown Philly’ and ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame.’
Nearly lost forever in a lawsuit around his design rights, the Phanatic was, thankfully, fully restored to Philadelphia in 2022 and continues to thrill fans at Citizens Bank Park and beyond to this day.
Swoop
Swoop, the official mascot of the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the top at his craft in the entire NFL. The beloved bird has been pumping South Philly crowds for nearly 30 years, and continues to thrill, perhaps now more than ever after the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory.
Swoop helped lead the way during the team’s Super Bowl parade this past February and is constantly front and center at the team’s many philanthropic endeavors, including the Eagles’ Autism Challenge.
“Hatched” at Neshaminy State Park in Bensalem, Swoop’s diet consists of smaller birds like Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, and Seahawks, and cheesesteaks and soft pretzels, of course. Although Swoop loves being the center of attention, he often finds himself being upstaged by the team’s actual eagle who swoops through the Linc during home games.
Gritty
Gritty, the official mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers, is a truly unique mascot.
A seven-foot-tall blob of orange fur — that is only outdone by his unkempt beard‚ has non-blinking googly eyes that will pierce your soul while assuring you everything will be okay. Gritty’s appearance is a far cry from the monotony of most modern mascots, but it perfectly suits his “my way or the highway” personality that seems to constantly leap well over the board of what would be considered “normal.” Nut normal’s boring anyway.
One of the fastest risers nationally for the top mascot in the game, Gritty is perhaps more famous than the Flyers these days, for now at least. Named for the “grit” the Flyers have often been described with over the years, Gritty proved to be a bit of an acquired taste at first, but is now unquestionably beloved in Philadelphia and continues to gain notoriety worldwide.
Gritty not only represents the tenacity of the city but also Philly’s “no one likes us, we don’t care” mentality, bravely trailblazing the way for both modern mascots and fashion.
Franklin the Dog
Known for his high-flying acrobatics, half-court shots, and celebrations of his birthday pretty much whenever he feels like it, the official mascot of the Philadelphia 76ers, Franklin the Dog, is a bouncing blue ball of energy whose personality can be simply described as “vibes.” He’s become a citywide favorite for young Philadelphia sports fans and is one of the hardest-working mascots in the game, constantly doing his part to motivate not only his team but also the many fans in attendance.
Perhaps Philadelphia’s most controversial mascot, Franklin the Dog has fought through the noise since his 2015 debut to become beloved by many throughout the city—especially the next generation of Sixers fans—though he still has his haters, but that only adds to his charm.
Franklin even has a budding rivalry with a local Sixers’ beat reporter. How many mascots can boast that type of real estate in the minds of the media?
Franklin the Dog did not make any of his half-court shots. If he can't do it against the New Zealand Breakers in the preseason, how can anybody trust him in the playoffs against the Celtics?
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) October 8, 2024
While some may still reminisce about the days of Hip-Hop or Big-Shot, Franklin is here to stay, keeping the Sixers’ crowd engaged, teaching Philadelphia’s children to joys of basketball, and thrilling crowds on the court.
Phang
Phang officially joined the Philadelphia Union in September 2018, but that’s not where his story begins. Born a normal snake on the banks of the Delaware River, Fang dreamed of playing soccer for as long as he could remember. His love for the game knew no bounds, but unfortunately, a game based around kicking a ball was not second nature to a snake.
Thankfully, Phang found an outlet for his love of the game after coming across a team flag, the design of which was based on the “Join, Or Die” political cartoon, attributed to Benjamin Franklin. Growing up, Fang’s mother always told him that his great, great, great, great, great grandfather originally posed for Franklin when he first drew the cartoon.
According to the Union, Phang was inspired by Franklin, and after a series of Ben Franklin-themed experiments, including taking a kite and a key out in a storm, he was born anew with arms, legs, and a new hairdo, too.
Ever since, Phang has been the biggest, best, and most dedicated Union soccer fan in the world, teaching children about the joys of soccer.
Wingston
One of three mascots introduced to the city of Philadelphia in 2018, Wingston has been holding it down for the city’s lacrosse team, the Philadelphia Wings. Standing an imposing seven feet tall yet with a fuzzy face endearing to all, Wingston has quickly become beloved by Wings fans of all ages.
Philly through and through, Wingston wears the number “215” on the back of his jersey as a sign of respect for his hometown. You could say Wingston is built for the game thanks to his unique ability to spin his head fully around, which helps him see the game from every angle.
Fun fact: Wingston and Gritty have a similar background, coming from branding consultant Dave Raymond, who was also the original Phillie Phanatic.
