PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Phillies are suing the design and merchandising firm that helped them create the Phillie Phanatic costume. Harrison and Erickson Incorporated sent the Phillies a letter in June 2018 threatening to make the mascot a “free agent,” allowing him to root for other teams if a new licensing agreement wasn’t reached.
The Phanatic debuted in 1978 after former Phillies Executive Vice President Bill Giles envisioned a new mascot for the Major League Baseball Club.
He described the new mascot as being “green, fat, furry, big-nosed, and instantly accessible to children,” a lawsuit filed in New York states.