In Minor League Baseball the players come and go, but the mascot remains.
Mascots are beacons of stability, bringers of joy and the embodiment of a brand. Picking favorites among this chaotic cavalcade of costumed characters is a thankless task, and while no one has to do it, this writer will give it his best shot.
What follows is a level-by-level list of my all-time favorite mascots, the latest version of an oft-updated article that originally appeared in 2018.
Triple-A
Homer (Charlotte Knights; Triple-A CWS, International League)
Charlotte Knights Ballpark Guide
At Charlotte's Truist Field, there be dragons. Or at least one dragon, in the form of a benevolent fire-breather named Homer. This irascible beast is rare in that he doesn't do battle with Knights; instead, he cheers for them. As befits a mythical creature, Homer has had more than his share of wild adventures over the years. These include, but are not limited to, an unsanctioned night on the town and an act of heroic real-life firefighting.
Honorable mentions: Champ (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders), Wool E. Bull (Durham Bulls), Archie (Reno Aces), Chico (El Paso Chihuahuas)
Double-A
Otey (Arkansas Travelers; Double-A SEA, Texas League)
Arkansas Travelers Ballpark Guide
Prior to the 2014 season the Arkansas Travelers unveiled a pair of mascots: Ace and Otey. The former, a handsome and regal horse, received top billing, but it was Otey who got all the attention. Turns out that the Travelers fans -- and the internet writ large -- just couldn't resist an insouciant fang-baring swamp possum decked out in a top hat and overalls. Was he a dream come true? Nightmare fuel? What's the difference? This is Otey's world now, and we're all just living in it.
Honorable mentions: Rowdy (Binghamton Rumble Ponies), Chompers (Hartford Yard Goats), Nutzy (Richmond Flying Squirrels); Ballapeno the Jalapeño (San Antonio Missions)
High-A
Fang (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers; High-A MIL, Midwest League)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Ballpark Guide
When it comes to animals that are inherently unlovable from a human's perspective, venomous snakes are high on the list. Fang, however, is a coldblooded anomaly. This bipedal reptile -- who possesses literal fangs within his perpetually open mouth -- embraces every aspect of the Timber Rattlers' experience with joy and benevolence. (The same cannot be said for Gnaf, his mustachioed evil twin. It's best to steer clear of Gnaf.)
Honorable Mentions: Mr. Shucks (Cedar Rapids Kernels), Homer (Peoria Chiefs), Buster (Jersey Shore BlueClaws), Poopsie (Beloit Sky Carp)
Single-A
Bernie (Inland Empire 66ers; Single-A SEA, California League)
Inland Empire 66ers Ballpark Guide
There's no mascot quite like Bernie, who wears No. 66 for the 66ers but is number one in the fans' hearts. His preferred ballpark location is the top of the dugout, where he is known to dance, gyrate and bang on pots and pans while intermittently yelling "Woo!" Yes, Bernie is that rare mascot who can make sounds with his mouth! After getting over the shock of witnessing a mascot capable of emitting bodily noise, you'll find yourself joining him in this joyful call. "Woo!" says Bernie. "Woo!" you'll reply. It's impossible not to.
Honorable mentions: Sheldon (Daytona Tortugas), Phinley (Clearwater Threshers), Parker (Fresno Grizzlies), Gus (Fredericksburg Nationals)