PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — The Phillies are welcoming home their infamous mascot — the Phillie Phanatic. Mascots are getting a reprieve from Major League Baseball.
A month after being tossed out of stadiums because of health concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, the fuzzy and funny creatures will return as inside-the-parkers.
“The fur is back on the field,” exclaimed Dave Raymond, the playful mischief-maker who originally portrayed the Phanatic.
On May 16, in its 67-page draft of the operations manual sent to teams, MLB banned Bernie Brewer, the Pirate Parrot, Dinger, Fredbird and their ilk from the ballpark, trying to restrict access and limit contact exposure.