| Mascot Hall of Fame | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 2005 |
| Opened | 2018 |
| Location | Whiting, Indiana |
| Founder | David Raymond |
| Inductees | 33 (11 college; 22 professional) |
| Websites | funfurallinwhiting.org mascothalloffame.com |
The Mascot Hall of Fame and Interactive Children's Museum is a hall of fame for North American sports mascots. It was founded by David Raymond, who was the original Phillie Phanatic from 1978 to 1993.
Each year (beginning in 2005), mascots are elected into the Mascot Hall of Fame by the voting membership and an executive committee made up of performers, sports executives, and other individuals intimate with the mascot community. The mascots go through a nomination process that ends with the executive committee selecting six finalist in each category to be placed on the ballot for consideration. There is a public online vote that contributes a percentage of the final tally. In 2006, the Hall added a separate class to honor college mascots.[citation needed]
To be eligible for the Mascot Hall of Fame, a mascot must have existed for a minimum of 10 years. They must also impact both their sport and community, inspire their fans, and consistently give memorable and groundbreaking performances.[citation needed]
It was founded as an online-only hall, with an induction ceremony taking place each year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, in September 2014, Raymond's mascot company signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Whiting, Indiana, to develop a permanent Mascot Hall of Fame on the south shore of Lake Michigan.[1][2] The educational, STEAM based, fully interactive museum opened December 26, 2018.[3] On July 22, 2024, the hall of fame announced that the Whiting, Indiana museum will close on September 14 of this year. In addition, the organization will continue online and are actively searching for a new location to host the museum.[4]
- ^ "Whiting Set to OK Mascot Hall". Retrieved 2014-09-26.
- ^ "'Wacky, brilliant' Mascot Hall of Fame coming to Whiting". Retrieved 2014-10-08.
- ^ Potempa, Philip (December 26, 2018). "Mascot Hall of Fame Opens in Whiting". Post-Tribune. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Potter, Mike (July 23, 2024). "Mascot Hall of Fame permanently closing in Indiana". wthr.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.