Welcome back to the 4th edition of Ranking Minor League Mascots! This week I tackle the Northwest League. This league hasn’t event started, it is a short season league but I could bear-ly contain myself. Out of 8 main mascots in this league 3 of them are cute and cuddly bears. I wonder if they ever get together for a jamboree? Joining the bears is a frog, a bird, a rare Spokanasaurus and then two that just defy description.

Just like the previous leagues I have ranked according to creativity, exposure on team websites and basic subjective feelings. This is not a scientific poll by any means…because I am not a scientist. I am a mascot!

#8 – CRATER – SALEM KEIZER VOLCANOES

Is he liquid hot magma? Does he do appearances? Does he beat fans with that baseball bat? I really don’t know. Not much info on the team website or facebook about Crater. However you can get him on your personalized credit card, So he has that going for him! Thanks to Captain Obvious on this ranking.

#7 – DUSTY – TRI-CITY DUST DEVILS

Weather phenomena are hard to create as characters. Dusty here kinda of looks like an even more demented Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. No web presence outside of a few pictures on the team’s facebook. If you want to help Dusty move up in the rankings here is your opportunity! I would love to know if he walks around the ballpark and just drops bags of dust on opposing fans!

#6 – BOOMER – YAKIMA BEARS

The first of the bears from the NWL! Boomer looks a little bit like the Hamm’s Beer Bear. He does have some merchandise in the team shop and a few pictures on the team website. What I would like to see is a biography. All mascots should have one. Your performer should also come up with character traits or a back story that informs how a mascot acts. Is Boomer a curious bear, a rambunctious one, what is his personality. Treat mascots as an actual entity and people will treat them as one. They go from being a ‘person in a suit’ to an extension of the team.

#5 – WEBBLY – EVERETT AQUASOX

Webbly is a fun looking guy. He has his own facebook with over 1,200 friends which is a plus in this league. I think they missed a golden opportunity to give Webbly a party favor tongue that he could stick out at people.

#4 – BOB BROWN BEAR – VANCOUVER CANADIANS

Look at that wiener! Is that a two footer? This is a happy bear! Out in his community and spreading the word about the “C’s” Bob Brown has a great bio and hangs around with his friends the Sushi Mascots. I don’t know if Bob Brown Bear is named after this guy, but it would be pretty cool if he was! Send him and email: and say I said hello! bobbrownbear@canadiansbaseball.com.

#3 – HUMPHREY – BOISE HAWKS

Wanna tweet a bird on twitter? Humphrey is on twitter during the season, so it is a short account but an account nonetheless. Here is a mascot tip for performers out there, WATCH YOUR HANDS! He is a really cool looking costume. A lot of attitude and personality. Humphrey is available for appearances, we have talked about mascots as revenue streams for minor league teams and they have different packages in Boise.

#2 – OTTO THE SPOKANASAURUS – SPOKANE INDIANS

As we get into the last two on the list it was a tough decision. Otto has a lot going for him. He is a ‘Spokanasaurus’, which I assume is a mix between an elephant, cow, dinosaur and maybe even a little Phillie Phanatic snout in there.. Great bio, a cast of characters around him, including Doris who is also a Spokanasaurus and Recycling Man who helps educate fans about recycling. another facet of this program is Super Otto, inflatable mascots are a great addition to any program. With the popularity of the ZOOperstars in minor league parks around the Country it only makes sense that teams create their own mascots in inflatable form. A great way to have Otto in two places at once if you get double booked. Seems like a great program out there in Spokane.

#1 – SLUGGO – EUGENE EMERALDS

Sluggo is the king of Eugene Oregon. At least it seems that way. I couldn’t quite place it as to why I liked Sluggo’s look so much until I saw this video and thought of Baloo the Bear from Disney’s The Jungle Book. It is so great to see mascots out in the community making those magic moments happen outside of the ballpark. He has his own facebook page and tons of info on the team website. The best picture however is HERE. I am jealous! I want to be Sluggo when I grow up!

Well that is it for the Northwest League. I hope to have the next ranking up by the end of the week. I have a 6 game home stand this week so I will look at getting either the Pacific Coast or the South Atlantic League done this week.