Rays Mascots

In early 1998, Rays scouts on a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico spotted a strange-looking animal. The creature, apparently drawn to the boat by the smell of hot dogs on the hibachi, climbed aboard and soon won the scouts over with his silly antics. During the excitement, a scout had a brilliant idea: make this fun-loving fuzz ball the mascot for the new baseball team. "Raymond," as the scouts dubbed him, immediately accepted their contract offer of all the hot dogs he could eat, all the high fives he could handle, and the ability to shake his groove thing to countless Tampa Bay fans.

Raymond's animal-like appearance causes confusion among fans of all ages. His fuzzy face is similar to a walrus, and his bulbous blue belly likens him to a mutant manatee. So, what exactly is he? In 2005, marine biologists and zoologists made a startling discovery: Raymond is actually a previously undiscovered species of dog known as "Canus Manta Whatthefluffalus" or, in layman's terms, a Seadog. Seadogs have all the traits of normal dogs. They enjoy going for walks, playing with kids, and fetching. Unlike other dogs, they are five to six feet tall, walk upright, are blue in color, and chase catfish. While other dogs live on land, Seadogs usually live in or around the water. Seadogs are well known for their fun-loving nature, passion for baseball, and general good looks.