Famous Animal Sports Mascots

Pro sports team---from the Cubs to the Lions---have always borrowed nicknames from famous animals, and since the 1970s many of these teams have also used animal mascots to entertain fans and build support for the team in the community.

  1. Go--Phoenix Suns

    • One of the most athletic, acrobatic mascots in pro sports, Go the Gorilla burst onto the scene in 1980. Eschewing the slapstick comedy routines of mascots who came before him, Go used gravity-defying dunks to trampoline into the hearts of fans of the Phoenix's pro basketball franchise.

    Rocky--Denver Nuggets

    • Best known for the time Charles "The Round Mound of Rebound" Barkley socked him in the face, Rocky the Mountain Lion has been the mascot of the Denver Nuggets since 1990. Like Go the Gorilla, Rocky delights NBA fans by attempting high-flying dunks and outrageous half-court shots at the Pepsi Center.

    Wild Wing--Anaheim Ducks

    • The mascot of the city's pro hockey team since the team's inaugural season of 1993, this Mighty Duck has been involved in two of the most infamous mascot accidents in pro sports history. In 1994, Wild Wing was descending from the rafters onto the ice below when the rigging caught and he was left suspended above the rink for several minutes. The next year, Wild Wing attempted to leap through a wall of fire when his skate caught and his costume ignited.

    Paws--Detroit Tigers

    • The oversized Paws is the purr-fect mascot for Detroit's major-league baseball team. In 1995, a Tigers fan who was struck by a foul ball went so far as to sue the team, claiming that Paws' outrageous behavior had distracted him from the game and therefore caused his injuries. Fortunately, a jury sided with Paws and the Tigers.

    San Diego Chicken--San Diego Padres

    • Named by the Sporting News as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful People in Sports for the 20th Century, this giant yellow chicken has thrilled fans of the San Diego Padres since 1974. The first true pro sports mascot, the Chicken was also the first mascot to have his very own baseball card.