D. Baxter turns 26 and we're still fans
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Happy 26th birthday, D. Baxter! You don't look a day over 25. Photo: Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images
Arizona Diamondbacks mascot D. Baxter celebrates 26 years of sports, silliness, and sex appeal this week.
Why it matters: In a world of confusing and creepy mascots, we're glad to have one we can be proud of.
The intrigue: You may have noticed that Baxter is a bobcat, not a snake, as the team name would suggest.
- His origin story is one of my favorite Arizona fun facts.
Flashback: The D-Backs were mascotless when they debuted in the Valley in 1998. Accounts of why vary.
- I was told during a sixth grade field trip that it was because management thought a snake would scare kids.
- I've also read that leadership was unclear how a snake (which notably has no arms or legs) would work in mascot form.
According to baseball lore, it was the 6-year-old son of infielder Jay Bell who found a solution to the mascot problem.
- Chase Field, then Bank One Ballpark, was nicknamed BOB. And little Brantley Bell liked cats. So why not have a bobcat represent the D-Backs?
- The elder Bell pitched the idea to then team president Rich Dozer and D. Baxter the Bobcat was born on June 23, 2000.
The bottom line: A year later, the D-Backs won the franchise's only World Series title.
- Coincidence? Yeah, probably. But we're glad Baxter was there to celebrate.
