Spike the Dog
Retired former mascot of the Massachusetts Mad Dogs
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| 2003
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In 2003, Spike the Dog made 12 appearances at ballparks in three states:
Sanford Mainers
At a game in the NECBL collegiate summer league,
Spike, in a non-canine guise, sat with visiting team owner Neil Olson. Olson
is above all a showman; for example, his well-publicized reaction to rumors
of a new franchise in nearby Portsmouth, N.H. was not fear over lost gate
receipts but eagerness for a new rivalry.
Spike brought cowbells; Olson brought air-horns, but after both were shamed
into piping down, Olson asked, "How many other ways do you know to enjoy a
ball game?" That would be: several dozen including a dog suit, and before
long, Spike was invited to Goodall Field in Sanford for the Independence Day
game. He got a mention on the marquee and the web site promised a mascot
Olympics. He was graciously received by resident mascot Broose D'Moose,
demonstrated his utter lack of prowess in baseball-themed competitions, and
returned for both of the remaining Quarry Dogs visits.
22-Jul was Broose's birthday and Spike presented him a gift-wrapped, Styrofoam
dog bone. A total of three mascots entertained the fans for the 90 minutes
until a rainout was declared, though player skits on the field stole the
show. Spike worked the make-up doubleheader a week later and refereed an
on-field fan Sumo-wrestling match, which was inconclusive even after he bent
down so that one competitor could push the other over him.
Concord Quarry Dogs
Spike visited Concord for a second year. The Q-Dogs had been advised in their
maiden year that an attractive mascot suit might be available. However,
before it could be acquired, they had already created the lovable but pug-ugly
Rocko. Rocko often goaded Spike into fisticuffs, although when Rocko began
traveling to Sanford, the two were cordial.
Spike is a bully but, despite the wiffle-ball bat, is ultimately a coward, and
always evaded battle, generally by interposing either a waste barrel or a
small child.
Nashua Pride
On Spike's local team, the vivacious moose Prime Time has gradually stolen the
mascot job from the lazy and terminally mangy lion Shag. On 1-Jul, Spike got
an excellent double-take out of owner Chris English, who knew Spike's identity
but perhaps not the extent of his devotion to the team. Spike returned for
the annual Halloween in August game; three other fans accepted the team's
invitation to attend in full costume, but Spike posed for photos, signed
autographs, greeted fans on the way out, and did other mascot stuff. He
returned again on 13-Sep. The PA played "Who Let the Dogs Out?" on his entry,
perhaps a semi-official recognition. AWA wrestling star "The Ripper" tired of
the Mad Dogs uniform and bought Spike a Nashua jersey. The next day, the roving
radio microphone interviewed the Ripper, who saluted "our newest
mascot, Spike the Pride Dog." Spike returned for Game 3 of the league finals
on 21-Sep; the club gave out inflatable Thunder Sticks, which are no match for a
wiffle-ball bat in swordplay.
North Shore Spirit
Spike's ultimate goal was to return to his birthplace, Fraser Field in Lynn,
Massachusetts, which this year welcomed a new Northeast League franchise.
Nick Lopardo, who bought the dormant Waterbury Spirit and moved it to Lynn,
permitted the visit, although he hoped not to encourage memories of the
previous tenant.
In fact, Lopardo said the North Shore fan base is entirely different from that
of the Mad Dogs, but on 23-Aug (Hawaiian Night), Spike found dozens of former
Mad Dogs fans who were enthused at his return, and dozens more too young to
have been Mad Dogs fans but who were equally happy. It being Saturday night
in Lynn, there were a dozen baseball orphans and punks, but the surprise
appearance of the Cone Man as a second bodyguard saved the day.
Text and images Copyright © 2003 by Spike, Brentwood, N.H., All rights
reserved, except: The dog logo is an adaptation of a trademark of the
Massachusetts Mad Dogs.
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