Sports
Phillies Debut New Phanatic Look At Spring Training Game
Have you seen the Phanatic's new look? The changes aren't drastic, but they are noticeable.
PHILADELPHIA — He may look a little different now, but he's still the same Phanatic we know and love.
Fans had mixed reactions to the new look for the Phillie Phanatic, which debuted this weekend when the Phillies played the Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training game in Clearwater, Florida.
The team teased a new look for the iconic mascot before the game, leaving many fans to wonder what they would see.
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When the Phanatic came out on the diamond Sunday, fans got the first look at the new design for the mascot.
He's got longer arms, stars around his eyes, a blue tail, scales under his arms, new red shoes with the Liberty Bell on them, and a bigger butt of course.
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None of the changes are that dramatic, but fans found them enough to gripe about.
Um. What possibly needed to change about the Phanatic? He was basically perfect? https://t.co/ZNxlrMlUuW
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) February 21, 2020
Get this bobo dollar store Phanatic out of my face. It is incredible to me the lengths people will go to to devalue and degrade the importance of creatives. Just pay the people their proportionally small share so you can keep making bank jesus
— Erica (@TheEricaB) February 24, 2020
Phillies: What do you want from us, the franchise you root for? Phillies fans: Spend money to improve the team Phillies: ....okay so we're changing the Phanatic
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) February 21, 2020
ASTROS FANS, POST-SCANDAL: Cheating?! It's cool now!! Come and get us, rest of the league!!! PHILLIES FANS, POST-NEWS OF THE PHANATIC BEING CHANGED A LITTLE: Do not take my jumping spot on the Ben Franklin, I've been eying it for years
— Justin Klugh (@justin_klugh) February 21, 2020
I am legit upset about the Phanatic getting a new look I mean he's arguably the most iconic mascot in all of sports
— Stoned Movie Philly Fan (@StonedPhillyFan) February 21, 2020
The change comes after legal issues with the Phanatic's creators, according to reports.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a 35-year copyright agreement between the Phillies and Phanatic creators Bonnie Erickson and Wayde Harrison is about to expire, so the team and the creators filed opposing lawsuits.
ESPN reports, the pair created the Phanatic in 1978 and want to renegotiate a contract struck with the team in 1984 and are threatening to turn him into a "free agent."
The team says it's equally responsible for the Phanatic's success as the creators are.
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