Remembering Dandy, The Doomed Yankees Mascot

Wayde Harrison

A hilarious article in the Wall Street Journal today looks back at the forgotten history of Dandy, the cursed Yankees mascot who failed to win the hearts of Bombers fans over the course of three disastrous seasons from 1979-1981. The costume was created and leased to the Yankees by the husband and wife team who created the wildly popular Phillies "Phanatic" mascot, but an unfortunate 1979 incident between the San Diego Chicken and Yankees left fielder Lou Piniella doomed Dandy.

While Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry warmed up, the Chicken allegedly "threw a hex" on him, enraging Piniella, who chased the mascot around and finally threw his glove at it. In the wake of the incident, George Steinbrenner told the press that mascots had no place in baseball—and this was just two weeks before Dandy's debut! Dandy performer Rick Ford had been choreographing dance moves, and the Yankees organist had even composed a Dandy theme song. But when his big day came, the Yankees management refused to let Dandy anywhere near the field, confining him to the upper deck.

David Raymond, who performed as the original Phanatic until 1993, tells the Journal he pitied Dandy's exile to the nosebleeds. "I remember what it was like in the upper deck in Philadelphia, and that's why I never went up there," says Raymond, who now owns his own mascot company. "When you go up into the upper deck, they want to see if you can fly." Somehow Dandy hung around for another two seasons, but Ford's Dandy career ended after the first season, ultimately crashing and burning when Citibank hired him to open for Bill Cosby at a corporate pep rally at Madison Square Garden post-season:

By the time Mr. Ford donned his costume, grabbed his bat and got ready to hit the stage to the tune of "Johnny B. Goode," the libations had been flowing for hours.
"As soon as the spotlight hit my face, I was completely blinded," Mr. Ford said. "I had no idea where I was, and these bankers were just crazy. Thousands of crazy bankers screaming at me, grabbing hold of me, almost ripping me apart. I felt like an escaped convict."

And after the lease expired, the Yankees never had a mascot again—at least, not in the Bronx. Down in Staten Island, fans still cheer on the beloved minor league Yankees mascots Scooter and Red!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on June 15, 2010 3:18 PM

Comments [rss]

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Mr. Met is so damn Awesome.

jaycjay

Why? Seriously? I don't understand why people think Mr. Met is somehow the coolest mascot of all. What's that supposed to be? It's a guy with a baseball for a head. Nothing creative or halfway interesting about the concept. And the name... Mr. Met? Really, that's the best they could come up with?

What would set it apart from any other team having a mascot who's just a guy with a baseball head, called, say, Mr. Philly, or Mr. Dodger, or Mr. Brewer, or whatever? What about this mascot signifies anything at all about the Mets or about NYC?

Sorry, Mr. Met is actually a totally generic "Mr. Mascot", and as such is simply the stupidest mascot of all.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

whatttttttttt!!!! Mr. Met is the coolest mascot ever in baseball. how dare you trash talk Mr. Met??? Just hating because A-Rod "Bitch Tits" or "Tits on the Field" is the Yankee mascot. And he was a thing for old fuglies. And Jeter looks like he will be wheeled to the field soon. :D

RESPECT Mr. Met or I'll throw up on you!!!

JMH

I know Derek Jeter can seem a bit effeminate from time to time, but that doesn't mean you have to call him a dandy.

jaycjay

I know Derek Jeter has had sex with more gorgeous women than you'll ever even meet, but that doesn't mean you have to call him effeminate.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

That gorgeous woman was A-Rod..

jaycjay

No, it was Mariah Carey, and then Miss Universe Lara Dutta, and Scarlett Johansson, and Jessica Alba, and Jessica Biel, and Minka Kelly, and who knows who else.

Criticize him all you want, but intimations about Jeter's sexuality only come from guys who wish they had the vaguest hope of the possibilities that he has and has had, and for those few of those guys who even have a relationship with a woman know that they couldn't possibly compete with him if life took that turn.

Mordicai

...& still better than Chief Wahoo.

Jen S

Mattingly refused to share the moustache spotlight.

DanielJ

Apparently in 2000 the creators just threw the costume out! Damn, I would have taken it.

jaycjay

Really I can understand mascots in minor league parks, and maybe even in some struggling small markets -- places where you need to create some kind of buzz to get fans interested, if not in the game in something.

For a successful major league in a major market, though, it's pointless. Enjoy the game. You don't need clowns to entertain you.

John_Matrix

he looks sort of like wade boggs in chicken hell for all his crimes against the bird.

mr. met is the only decent baseball mascot.

LeLY

Really? Man...I am glad I am just old enough to not remember this stupidity.

I never could figure out what the Phanatic was supposed to be and I am really saddened that it took two people to come up with such a thing.

jaycjay

"George Steinbrenner told the press that mascots had no place in baseball"

His certainly made his mistakes over the years, but occasionally Steinbrenner spot-on nails it.