Word broke late last week that the beloved mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, was about to undergo a change. While the Philadelphia Phillies and the original creator of the Phanatic, Harrison/Erickson, the company who created the Phanatic back in 1978, are embroiled in a legal battle regarding the mascot, the club has unveiled a “new” mascot. That mascot will debut at Spectrum Field in Clearwater today. Fans can relax: it has the feel of the old Phanatic.
NBC Sports Philadelphia unveiled images of the mascot on Sunday, which were taken back in Philadelphia:
The evolved Phanatic pic.twitter.com/RPS61dbDpb
— UK Phillies (@UkPhillies) February 23, 2020
The differences may be enough to make a difference.
Among the differences:
- Different shape behind the eyes
- Different sneakers and different stirrups
- Different hands
- Redefined snout
- New hair
- New tail
The changes could be enough for the Phillies to win a lawsuit.
The company who is seeking payment fro the original design, Harrison/Erickson, also sold “different” mascots that were eerily similar. Consider “Slyly” of the Hiroshima Carp:
While @1nceagain2zelda shares great Muppets capers, here’s cousin Slyly of Hiroshima Carp. https://t.co/7AVY9lPj4K pic.twitter.com/HUkBDtBzWy
— Toolsy Fielder (@Toolsy_Fielder) February 19, 2016
What is different than the Phanatic?
- Different shape behind the eyes
- Different sneakers and different stirrups
- Different hands
- Redefined snout
- New hair
- New tail
The following are already proprietary to the Phillies:
- Name (“Phillie” of course)
- Personality (Thanks to Phillies employees Dave Raymond and Tom Burgoyne)
- Hat
- Jersey
Therefore, if Harrison/Erickson can sell a “different” mascot by changing the same things the Phillies changed today, maybe they have a chance to win. Then again, I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on television.
But this will play out between now and June. But my hunch is, at Spectrum Field today, the mascot will feel like the old Phanatic.
