When is National Mascot Day?
Saturday June 17thOn June 17th each year, these legendary figures honor the innate talent they bring to teams, franchises, and other areas.
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Mascots have been around for more than 130 years. We derived the word mascot from the French word La Mascotte. A mascotte is a woman or a girl with mystic powers and the ability to bring good fortune. The woman in the French opera by the same name is a farm girl. In 1880, the opera opened in Paris and was followed by additional productions around Europe.
A football match between Middlesborough Association and a newly formed squad named La Mascotte was announced in the London new paper, The Era, November 11, 1882 sports article. Mr. W.E. Gregory, a One player, dressed up in costume. The player's attire isn't discussed in the story, but it does mention that he obtained a nickname from the female members of the crowd. The article also praises Gregory for his work on the track. Was he the first sports mascot?
Sports are full of good fortune charms, jinxes, and ritual. In 1883, the first mention of sports mascot appears in baseball in the United States. A boy on the team named "Chic" had a reputation for bringing good fortune to the players, according to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary.
