Youppi! becomes first Canadian inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame

Youppi! (Simon Law, Wikimedia Commons)

According to the Canadian Press on Sunday, Youppi! has become the first Canadian inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting, Indiana. Youppi! was with the Montreal Expos of Major League Baseball from 1979 to 2004, and has been with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League since 2005.

Youppi! was created by Bonnie Erickson of Anoka, Minnesota. Erickson is known for creating 16 mascots in professional sports including the Phillie Phanatic, the mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies. Erickson also created many Muppets including Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Statler and Waldorf, and Janice.

Youppi! is also known as being the first mascot to be ejected from a Major League Baseball game. On August 23, 1989, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda was complaining to the umpires that Youppi! was being loud while on the roof of the Dodgers dugout, and Youppi! was subsequently ejected in the 11th inning. The Dodgers defeated the Expos 1-0 in 22 innings.

Youppi! is recognized throughout the sports world as an orange, hairy giant. He was inducted alongside the Baltimore Orioles’ The Oriole Bird, Boomer the Cat of the Indiana Pacers, and Blue the Horse of the Indianapolis Colts. In addition to being recognized as a cat, Boomer is also known sometimes as a panther.

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