Phillie Phanatic - Performance

Performance

The Phanatic rides around on an ATV. During games, the Phanatic wanders the stadium, greeting fans and humorously mocking supporters of the opposition. The Phanatic performs a number of regular routines on the field before the game and between innings. Some of these routines are:

• Taunting the visiting team by dancing provocatively in front of their dugout, mocking the actions of their players, and smashing or stomping on an object, such as a batting helmet, representing the team.
• Standing on the roof of the Phillies dugout during the bottom of the seventh inning for "The Phanatic Dance", which is consistently sponsored by Cabrini College, he leads the crowd in attempts to "hex" the opposing pitcher.
• Warming up in the bullpen.
• Shooting hot dogs into the stands using a pneumatic gun attached to his ATV.
• Visiting the various broadcast booths and committing various pranks such as pouring popcorn on the broadcasters, or serving them Philly cheesesteaks.

The Phanatic's favorite umpire was the late Eric Gregg, a Philadelphia native, and would greet him enthusiastically on the field when Gregg was in charge. Gregg would often play along with the Phanatic between innings, sometimes dancing with him or otherwise participating in his routines.

The Phanatic's antics are not popular with all opposition players and coaches. The Dodgers' Tommy Lasorda in particular did not like the Phanatic's mocking of the Dodgers. In 1988, he assaulted the Phillie Phanatic during a nationally televised game after the Phanatic stomped on a life sized dummy wearing Lasorda's uniform.

His mother, Phoebe Phanatic, occasionally appears on-field with the Phanatic. He also has a younger cousin Phred who is rarely seen.

One week before the Phillies had their 2006 opener, the Phanatic was "dyed" red as part of the team's week-long promotion to "Paint the Town Red". He was "dipped into a special paint" made by a team sponsor MAB Paints (now Sherwin-Williams) and changed from green to red. He returned to his regular color in time for the season opener for that year. This was repeated for the 2007 season, as he became red at a Philadelphia Fire Department station to help raise funds for smoke alarms in Philadelphia, raising over $4,000. "Paint the Town Red Week" has been repeated prior to the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons.

The Phanatic also has the dubious distinction of being the most sued mascot in sports. In 2010, a woman filed suit claiming that the Phanatic injured her knee at a minor league game.