We all remember the mascot I am talking about. This has to go down as the worst idea ever for a mascot. Or was it really the best?

I am talking about the Amarillo Sox. The year they decided to use an ummmmm sock as their mascot. It seems very innocent when you hear it. They were the Sox so why not? Doesn't look so innocent when you see it in person.

credit: amarillo.com
credit: amarillo.com
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That thing could scare you. You remember this picture? Right? Let me tell you a little of the back story. You see I was employed there at the time.

Bat Girl
credit: Melissa Bartlett, TSM
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I did a little bit of everything there. Here I was filling in as bat girl. Which was really pretty cool. Most other nights I worked at the ticket window and then when the game started I ran in and grabbed a mic.

I was then in charge of on field events. So the fact that I was not standing next to that mascot that night is a complete miracle. I most certainly remember that night well. I tried to stay as far away from that mascot as possible. For good reason.

I would hate for my picture to be blasted right next to that "sock" anytime you Google Amarillo Sox mascot fiasco, or whatever that brought up all of those images.

I think that the staff of the Amarillo Sox knew what they were doing when they bought that mascot. I mean just think of all the great press this team in Amarillo got. Remember there really is no such thing as bad publicity.

credit: Melissa Bartlett, TSM
credit: Melissa Bartlett, TSM
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Not in this case at least. I will tell you that I was at a lunch at our favorite hangout, Pizza Hut, at the time when we were shown what the new mascot was going to be. We were shown that "sock". Each one of us laughed and tried to warn about this.

We were just all told that we had a dirty mind. Us and half of the country. It was a smart move. Even if they were laughing at us at least we were being talked about. We were that little team in Amarillo that was getting all sorts of press. Oh and that is priceless.

Just like that sock. Oh and if the statue of limitations is up for anything that may have happened to that uniform. I am pretty sure that I know where it resides now. I know at one point it was listed up on Ebay. There were bids but not as much as was wanted to sell it.

credit: Melissa Bartlett, TSM
credit: Melissa Bartlett, TSM
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That sock made one more appearance at Amarillo Sox stadium. After that initial night it was "retired" until we did an on-field event a few years later that let it run one more time. We had the Amarillo Dilla Dude out there, Bobby Sox (which was the mascot that took over after the "sock") and the Amarillo Sock all took the field one last time.

The Dilla Dude had his last hoorah and got to put the sock in it's place. It was definitely a good time....and the way that saga should have ended. With a good smack down on the field.

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