What? No love for the Oriole Bird?

Actually, I love these Talkin' Baseball columns. They just have the feel of two guys sitting around shooting the breeze about the game.

In what world were Ribbie and Rhubarb "second-tier"? Those guys were strictly bottom of the barrel, being to mascots what Enzo Hernandez was to RBI men. And in the already dodgy world of mascots, that's saying something.

But what's it been, like 20 years since the San Diego Chicken won his free agency. Saying Youppi's no Chicken is like saying that Adam Dunn's no Frank Robinson -- i.e. true, but Frank ain't playing (though his spirit inhabits Albert Pujols).

Oddly, just the other day I was wondering if the Famous Chicken was still out there plying his wares at minor-league stadia.

On the MLB mascot hierarchy, I fear that Youppi is 3rd, albeit a distant third, to the Chicken and the Phanatics (I assume there's been more than one at this point).

They're all behind Max Patkin but he was an itinerant clown, not a mascot.

Surely that guy who was on Road Rules then became Mr. Pirate or whatever is last on the list.

"Youppi! is really the Tim Raines of mascots."
I like this, though I came to think highly of Youppi! shortly before I saw first him in person - which did nothing to diminish my perception.

What was the Crab in SF? (Insert Bonds/Burkett joke here.)

He was strictly second-tier, like Ribbie or Rhubarb. Or the Pirate Parrot. Or Fernando Valenzuela

Que lastima!

WOW!
THat's the first reference I'lve seen to Ribbie and Rhubarb in 20 Years or so....My finest memories are hanging out at OLD COMMISKEY in the early 80's....I absolutely loved Ribbie and Rhubarb before realizing much later in life that they were probaby crap...But when it's the only thing you know, it's always the best (Any North Korean can tell you that). It's kind of akin to "wreslting fans" of my era remembering Hulk Hogan as the "best wrestler in the world" without having ever seen Harley Race, Lou Theisz, The Sheik, Terry and Dory Funk or Bruiser Brody.....

I used to pull on Rhubarbs "Trunk" when he came into the stands....Utter Crap.....Anyhow, anyone got any links to photos of those clowns?

Neel: Not that you'd care, because your heart has clearly turned to stone since I saw you last, but that Fernando comment, that gets you cut from the Neel family Christmas card list.

Eric Neel just made my Christmas card list.

Youppi was blocking the Expos' farm system for years. I mean Boudreaux the nutria was so untouchable the feds couldn't even stop him of course their double AA guy Rascal is a bit of an oddball in the Turk Wendell vein (knitting?) but probably the one with the highest ceiling is Champ down in rookie ball. He's a bit old for the NY/Penn league but he's got the pedigree and great sinking action.

I absolutely loved Ribbie and Rhubarb before realizing much later in life that they were probaby crap...But when it's the only thing you know, it's always the best

That explains why the fans of that era embraced Daryl Boston and Ricky Horton as well.

I thought it was "Roobarb" ... and that Ribbie was the Phanatic knock-off.

Wikipedia has Baseball Mascots!

Mariner Moose -- a brown moose-like figure

[The Nats are] renting out a football stadium. The last team to have any success doing that was the '59 Dodgers, and these ain't the '59 Dodgers.


The '97 and '03 Marlins are wondering about Neel's definition of "any success".

A picture of Ribbie and Rhubarb.

....Ribbie sucked. Below replacement-level bear. If he had three eyes, now that would be something.

Rhubarb-- pretty cool.

Ranking White Sox mascots:

1. Rhubarb
2. Southpaw
3. Ribbie

The '97 and '03 Marlins are wondering about Neel's definition of "any success".

He must be referring specifically to teams playing in football stadiums temporarily while their new stadium is being built. Otherwise, there are tons of examples of teams having success in a shared stadium.

One of the many reasons I loved Jimmy Piersall was that he threatened to rip the nose off that damned thing. I remember liking the Reinsdorf-Einhorn ownership group the first few months (we got Fisk!), then they ran Harry Caray off in favor of the Harrelson-Drysdale team (ugh), put those stupid mascots in and eventually booted Piersall out of his booth and then off his SportsVision gig, all while making noises about relocating to Addison.

That division title in '83 made me feel a lot better, but I still haven't recovered from Reinsdorf installing Harrelson as GM in '86. Had he stayed in the job, the aborted move to Tampa would have come as a relief.

the Harrelson-Drysdale team (ugh)

God, did anyone like Drysdale? He might have been a good announcer once he left Chicago and went to L.A. to work for his team, but when he was a White Sox announcer, he could barely disguise his contempt for the American League in general and the White Sox in particular. When Hawk Harrelson is the better of the two broadcast partners, you know there's a problem.

I think Southpaw is Brooks Boyer's brainchild. Boyer's actually done a pretty good job selling this team, but I hate mascots.

sorry guys ...

FREDBIRD RULES

The Giants Wharf Rat is pretty sad. They claim its a seal...

I always felt bad for Chief Knockahoma. Im not sure what was sadder... when he was hired, or when he was fired.

I think Southpaw is Brooks Boyer's brainchild. Boyer's actually done a pretty good job selling this team, but I hate mascots.

The sound there is at NBA level now, but then again I'm old and they're not marketing to me anymore.

The crab mascot for the Giants was hands down the worse mascot I have ever seen.

Johnnie LeMaster was the worst Giant mascot I ever saw.

"Youppi! is really the Tim Raines of mascots. When he was active, we all thought he was OK. Not great, not special. Just OK. But as soon as he left the game, all the sabermetric guys started raving about him."

Ok, I wasn't alive or conscious for most of Raines' peak, is this true? He won a batting title, went to a bunch of all star games, and stole a ton of bases. Even without looking at the numbers saber types look at, that seems like a player who would be considered great today. Is the nostalgia for 80s baseball the reason writers overrate those types of players today? That would explain why back then Raines wasn't touted, if the writers have changed the MO since his time to focus on the things he was good at. Otherwise, I'm confused.

Ok, I wasn't alive or conscious for most of Raines' peak, is [it] true [that he wasn't really considered great or special during his career]?

Basically, Raines's problem was that (a) he wasn't quite Rickey Henderson, (b) he played in Montreal, (c) he wasn't quite Rickey Henderson, (d) was attached to the big cocaine scandal, and (e) he wasn't quite Rickey Henderson. Probably in that order.

Youppi! is the Tim Raines of mascots? What horseshit. Shove off.