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Phillie Phanatic brings antics to Clearwater for spring training

 
The Phillie Phanatic performs with the UT Spartan Scarlets dance team on Tuesday.
The Phillie Phanatic performs with the UT Spartan Scarlets dance team on Tuesday.
Published March 5, 2015

CLEARWATER — It's about 35 minutes before the 1:05 start of the first spring training game and the Phillie Phanatic makes his appearance atop an ATV. The Phanatic is well-known for riding a four-wheeler around the field at top speed. He helps conduct the University of Tampa band. He meets with fans in the stands and gets a picture with the school's dance team and cheerleaders.

As the Phanatic performs his stunts on the field, fans Rita and Cori Purvis cheer him on from the stands. They try to catch the Phillies home opener each year. The mother and daughter recently moved from New Jersey to Florida and traveled from Cape Coral to catch the game, and of course the Phanatic.

"He's half the reason we're here," Rita, 57, said. "When you watch the Phanatic he makes it fun. The seventh inning is real special."

• • •

A newspaper ad seeking mascots led Tom Burgoyne to become one of the most beloved figures in baseball.

Burgoyne, a mascot in high school, danced and pantomimed for a video camera. The job seemed better than selling computer products. A panel of judges selected him and he started as a backup to the Phillie Phanatic in 1989. His part-time role changed to full-time for the strike-shortened 1994 season.

Burgoyne credits the Phanatic's popularity to consistency and longevity — he is only the second person to fill those oversized shoes in 38 years. "(The Phanatic is) fundamentally part of the game experience," Burgoyne said. "Now it's a generational thing."

• • •

A spring opening day tradition for years, the Phanatic now stays and entertains fans the entire spring season. Expect some surprises and twists in addition to the usual antics by the Phanatic, who, according to his official biography, hails from the Galapagos Islands.

Some of the Phanatic's spring training packing list includes a pirate costume, a Leprechaun outfit for St. Patrick's Day and his nitrogen-powered hot dog launcher.

"It's a challenge," Burgoyne said. "You never know where the hot dog is going to land."

• • •

When the 162 games are played the Phanatic still has a full season of appearances. Weddings, bar mitzvahs, school events. He was even invited to a funeral once. "It was a little strange," Burgoyne said. "But I brought out a lot of smiles."

In addition to appearances, the Phanatic is an author of 13 children's books. His latest chronicles his adventures during spring training in 2014. The book will be released this week.

• • •

By the third inning the Phanatic is back at it. This time in the stands along the first base line. It's easy to spot his green head bobbing above a sea of fans. Excited children and parents fumble with cellphone cameras and popcorn, trying to snap a photo with the Phanatic.

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Gina Schock egged on the Phanatic to kiss her husband Brian, 57, while she balanced a beer and cellphone camera. The couple recently moved to St. Pete Beach from New Jersey.

"I'm so happy he's here," Gina, 50, said.

Then she went to her phone to start sharing the picture with friends and family.

Some fans are a little more shy.

Braxton Nieves, 4, was a little nervous to see the 6-foot-tall green mascot — at first. He held the stair railing looking at the Phanatic with a scared look while relatives encouraged him to get close for a picture. While they did not get a picture, Nieves did give the Phanatic a high five.

• • •

After the fifth inning the Phanatic is back on his ATV speeding around the warning track, the infield and outfield interacting with the grounds crew and stirring up fans.

UT shortstop Giovanni Alfonso cracks a grand slam home run in the seventh inning to give the Spartans a 6-2 lead they would never relinquish.

"Even if we're not winning, the Phanatic gets the same positive response," Burgoyne said.

The score is no impediment for the Phanatic. The seventh inning is his grand finale. He dances above the third base dugout with other mascots and the UT dancers, making sure to do his signature belly roll. He hops back into the crowd and shines a bald fan's head before walking up the concourse. The fans go crazy.

"It's really fun to do (spring training) games." Burgoyne said. "Give them the same show we give them back home."

Jared Leone can be reached at jared.leone@gmail.com or @jared_leone.