$20 Hat Sale | Ends Midnight May 25 | Use code: hat20

  • Shipping $3.99 | FREE on orders $65+
  • Log in
  • Cart (0)
  • Checkout
  • Originals 
    • All Originals
    • Stadium Series
    • Philly Culture
    • Defunct Philly Teams
    • Philly Legends
  • Eagles

    All Eagles

    Newest Eagles

    By Person  

    Women
    Men
    Youth

    By Type  

    T-shirts
    Long sleeve
    Caps
    Winter Gear
    Collectibles

    By Brand  

    Shibe Originals
    Mitchell & Ness
    '47 Brand
    Junk Food

    View Eagles Best Sellers

  • 76ers
  • Phillies
  • Athletics
  • Flyers 
    • Gritty
  • Kids
  • Art 
    • Word Art Prints
    • Books
    • Collectibles
    • Drinkware
    • Heritage Banners
    • Vintage Photos
  • Sale
  • Gift Cards
  • About

    Shibe Vintage Sports

    Designs by Philly artists

    View Lookbook

    Products  

    Gift Cards
    Lookbook
    All products
    Search Page

    Policies  

    Loyalty Program
    Giving Back
    Return Policy
    Size Charts

    Contact  

    Contact Us
    About Shibe
    Sign up for our emails
    Work at Shibe
    "Shibe Sports Presents" Podcast

    Shibe Sports History Blog

  • Originals 
    • All Originals
    • Stadium Series
    • Philly Culture
    • Defunct Philly Teams
    • Philly Legends
  • Eagles
  • All Eagles

    Newest Eagles

    By Person  

    Women
    Men
    Youth

    By Type  

    T-shirts
    Long sleeve
    Caps
    Winter Gear
    Collectibles

    By Brand  

    Shibe Originals
    Mitchell & Ness
    '47 Brand
    Junk Food

    View Eagles Best Sellers

  • 76ers
  • Phillies
  • Athletics
  • Flyers 
    • Gritty
  • Kids
  • Art 
    • Word Art Prints
    • Books
    • Collectibles
    • Drinkware
    • Heritage Banners
    • Vintage Photos
  • Sale
  • Gift Cards
  • About
  • Shibe Vintage Sports

    Designs by Philly artists

    View Lookbook

    Products  

    Gift Cards
    Lookbook
    All products
    Search Page

    Policies  

    Loyalty Program
    Giving Back
    Return Policy
    Size Charts

    Contact  

    Contact Us
    About Shibe
    Sign up for our emails
    Work at Shibe
    "Shibe Sports Presents" Podcast

    Shibe Sports History Blog

The Shibe Vintage Sports History Blog

Happy Birthday Phillie Phanatic!

April 25, 2011

Happy birthday to the Phillie Phanatic, who debuted on April 25th, 1978. The Phanatic was recently named the beloved mascot in sports by Forbes Magazine. So how did America’s most beloved mascot get his start?

The Phanatic was created in 1977 because the team wanted a more family-friendly mascot. Their previous mascots, Phil and Phyllis, were created to build upon the bicentennial buzz, but the bicentennial had come and gone, and Phil and Phyllis weren’t inspiring families to bring their kids to the madhouse that was Veteran’s Stadium. The following comes from Bill Giles book, Pouring 6 Beers at a Time:

Denny Lehman, the Phillies director of marketing, periodically traveled with the team. He saw firsthand how much fun the (San Diego) Chicken could create. For two or three years, Denny badgered me to have a real mascot to replace Phil and Phyllis. He explained that the chicken was creating more of a family atmosphere at Jack Murphy and that the number of fights in the stands had decreased dramatically.

In 1978 I relented and asked our promotion director, Frank Sullivan, to contact the people who designed Big Bird on Sesame Street. I asked the designers-Bonnie Erickson and Wade Harrison-to create something fat, green, indefinable, and loveable.

The first rendition was not to my liking. I asked them to make him fatter and his nose bigger. They did. The Phillie Phanatic was born.

The Phanatic debuted on April 25, 1978 against the Cubs.



Tweet Share Pin It Email

Also in The Shibe Vintage Sports History Blog

Celebrate Jackie Robinson - Support Philly Youth

April 13, 2022

Continue Reading

Celebrate the Philadelphia Athletics Opening Day Week

April 05, 2022

Continue Reading

Philly's Greatest Food - Vote Now

March 21, 2022

Continue Reading

+Subscribe

+Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Shibe Lookbook
Quick Links
  • Search
  • Lookbook
  • Loyalty Program
  • About Us
  • The Shibe History Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Returns
  • Privacy Policy



© 2014-2022 Shibe Vintage Sports.