As the summer begins, so does the traveling for our website. We are set to take the biggest trip of this websites history. We prepare ourselves for to take our services to the Mid-West and some parts of the East Coast.
 
We began our trip by flying to the warm and relaxed state of Wisconsin to visit the Milwaukee Brewers. During this trip, we encountered an array of different experiences. The first one was transportation in different cities. In the city of Milwaukee, transportation is very tough. So, make sure you are ready to pay top dollar for a cab or an app based service (Uber, Lyft). Just a disclaimer we spent more money in the city of Milwaukee then we did in Chicago. Overall Milwaukee is a quiet area, not much to do and the city sleeps at a very early time. 

Ranking on the list at #21 the Oriole Bird takes the crown. He might not have the most unique name of the bunch, he does add flare to the the team. The Oriole Bird was introduced to the team in 1979, where they brought out a huge egg and made him hatch live on the field. Talk about an introduction! Overall the Oriole Bird has shared some time on the teams hats and apparel making him one of the most well known mascots in baseball. 

Power Ranking: #22
Team: San Diego Padres
Mascot Name: Swing Friar 

The Padres welcomed the Swinging Friar in 1958 and has one of the longest tenure with any Major League Baseball club. The Friar has been with the Padres since they were still considered a Minor League Baseball team. The team made a Friar as the mascot in memory to the Franciscan Friar who found the Mission of San Diego. When the team was called up to the Majors, the organization decided to keep the popular mascot and give him a more friendly make over. In 1966, the Padres made it official by creating a swinging Friar patch on the sleeve of every alternative uniform. 

Another weird fact about the Pods mascot has to be for a long time the mascot was played by a real person dressed as a Friar. It was not until recently where the Padres have made the move to a more cartoon like mascot. In present time, the cartoony fun loving Friar roams Petco Park and greet guest and takes photos with young fans. Although this mascot has the rich history, it is a odd and misunderstood mascot.   

Power Ranking: #23
Team: St. Louis Cardinals 
Mascot Name: Fred Bird 

When it comes to some of the most decorative franchises in Professional Baseball the St. Louis Cardinals are definitely up there. They have won multiple championships and have had some of the game best best and brightest players (Ozzie Smith, Bob Gibson).BUT! one thing the St. Louis is lacking is not championship rings but a revamped mascot.

Fredbird has been the St. Louis Cardinals mascot since 1979, and just like our good buddy Raymond from Tampa Bay. FredBird shares an origin story. The story goes that Fredbird loved going to games with mama and papa bird. Fredbird fell in love with the game of baseball (especially with the ballpark food). This is when he knew he wanted to be apart of the game. Fredbird spent most of his time messing with umpires and engaging with players but their was one thing Fredbird liked more then all of that and that was making the crowd enjoy the game. He spend hours of the game dancing and hugging fans and when he's not enjoy a fresh dog, he's giving out T-shirts (What a guy!) 

Overall, Fredbird has a rich history with the franchise, but it seems he can use a make over and I am saying a good one (not a New Orleans pelicans make over.) Considering he is a part of such an iconic organization, I believe he deserves a shot and the opportunity to be one the the top mascots in major league baseball. 

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The blue furry creature that roams Tropicana Field is known as Raymond. Raymond was born in the Gulf of Mexico and has been the Tampa Bay Rays mascot since 1998. Raymond is also one of the only mascots that has an origin story. The story goes that two Ray's scouts went fishing and found the fun loving blue creature. They offered him all he can eat hot dogs contract and as many high fives he can handle. 

Raymond accepted the deal.. 

Raymond's animal like persona can be confusing to some fans, including myself, but this fuzzy face bare's some similarities to a walrus and his blue belly give him a manatee look. As the story goes in 2005 the Tampa Bay Rays hired marine biologist to make the discovery of what Raymond is. Well they discovered he was a Canus Manata Whatthefluffalus or in simple terms a Seadog. Raymond brings a great family vibe to the Tampa Bay organization, playing with the fans and pranking and joking with the players. 

Power Ranking #26 
Team: Miami Marlins
Mascot Name: Billy The Marlin

Debuting in 1993, Billy the Marlin has been a favorite at Marlins Park. Pranking fans and having new routines every outing, Billy the Marlin has been around for over 20 years and has been one of the few mascots that has had the same person play them for over 10 years. Another interesting thing, we can say about Billy the Marlin is he is one of the only mascots to perform a home game outside of home. In 2004, the Marlins were ask to relocate to Chicago in caution of Hurricane Ivan. The Marlins only spent a couple days in Chicago before heading back home. Another one of Billy the Marlins career highlights has to be in 2008 , where he won the "Gold Silly String Award" by the Mascots Hall of Fame. 

Power Ranking #27 
Team: Cleveland Indians 
Mascot Name: Slider
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Coming this year, we decide to power rank Major League and Minor league mascot's. You the audience get to learn more about the crazy and wild mascots we have in professional and minor league baseball. The first one on our list is Slider of the Cleveland Indians and the by looks of him, he is very interesting. Slider was introduced in 1990 and has had a rough history. Slider was inspired by the Philly Phanatic. Slider was famously known for his fall off the outfield wall, which tore multiple ligaments in his knee, but that did not go un-noticed in 2008 Slider was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. The real question is what is he?

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Camelback Ranch: Home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox

​It has been an exhausting three days full of baseball and travel, but today we make our last stop of a tour of spring training. We end this trip by visiting Camelback Ranch, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox. The Dodgers and the White Sox have called Camelback Ranch their home for almost 18 years, which is one of the longest spring homes for any Major-League Baseball team. Camelback Ranch is located in Glendale, AZ and the ballpark holds up to 13,000 fans.