Best and worst mascots in MLB

There's not a mascot in professional or college sports that's as recognizable as this dude. Normally a giant green monster that stands 6-foot-6 would be nightmare-worthy. That's until we realize all the amazing antics he's pulled off over the years, representing one of the oddest fan bases in the sports world to a T. 

This cat looks like he's going to go out there to steal your lunch money before dumping you head first into the trash. Is that really the type of figure parents want their children dealing with at a game? Seriously, it's enough to give a grown man nightmares. Now, imagine six-year-old Bobby. Well done, D'Backs. You succeeded in ruining the fan experience. 

Over 40 years old, Bernie has been a staple in both National League and American League baseball longer than any other mascot in the game. His origins are extremely interesting too. The Brewers are paying respects to a fan that climbed to to the top of the scoreboard at old Milwaukee Stadium back in 1969, refusing to come down until the team's attendance increased. In any event, sliding down a beer stein every time a Brewer hits a homer is pretty darn original. Combining him with the racing sausages makes Milwaukee a fun destination of young baseball lovers. 

A purple dinosaur with polka dots, really? It is kinda cool that this mascot came to fruition when construction crews found dinosaur fossils during the construction of Coors Field. That's pretty much the only thing that's cool about this eyesore. Remember Barney? That's all that comes to mind when seeing this dude stroll the field during game day. Polka dots? Really?

The first modern mascot in baseball, Mr. Met has been entertaining fans in New York City for over a half century. Unlike the Reds, it appears the Mets got this right from the get-go. One of the most important things a mascot can bring is recognition to his team. In this, Mr. Met has succeeded at every turn. It's simple. It's not too flashy. It's brilliant. And it has been since before every current member of the team was even born. That's what makes it so cool. 

The name is great. Maybe paying homage to left-handed pitchers or to the south side of Chicago, we have no idea what the meaning behind this mascot's name is. What we do know is that it's a hairy green character with no color scheme that comes close to what the White Sox wear. That makes it unbearable and unbelievable. There also seems to be very little association with the team itself. 

Why not? This mascot was actually picked by a young kid back in 1989 who took part in a contest with over 2,000 young children to choose the team's mascot. For some reason the Pacific Northwest and moose go hand in hand. It's a cartoonish character to be sure. But it's also not enough to give children nightmares. The Diamondbacks should take note here. 

We get it. An eagle representing a team from the nation's capital. Eagles also screech. Outside of the whole awkward "Saved by the Bell" thing (hey, Dustin Diamond), it just seems out of place. Something more patriotic would have been the better choice here. A former president, the American flag, maybe some dude dressed as the Washington Monument. Either way, the name is what I take issue with the most here. 

Simple and awesome, that's the best way to describe this mascot. It's a simple tiger that looks to be Tony the Tiger's younger brother. It dances, interacts with the children and wears a Tigers cap. There isn't much the Tigers could've done with their mascot back in the mid-1990s, but they chose right here. 

Seriously, "Gapper" is one of the oddest fellows out there. A yellow snout with blue in his hair. Not sure if this is expected to be an old man or simply an unknown animal type of some kind. In any event, the Reds would be best off going with their unofficial mascots, Mr. Red and Rosie Red.