Spike the Dog

Retired former mascot of the Massachusetts Mad Dogs

Appearances: 2003 ... 2004 ... 2005 ... 2006 ... 2007 ... 2008 ... 2009-10

Spike the Dog was the mascot of the Massachusetts Mad Dogs who played baseball at Fraser Field in Lynn, Massachusetts.

In a North Atlantic League game on 20-Jul-96 against the Nashua (N.H.) Hawks, Spike visited Holman Stadium with the Mad Dogs. Hawks fans enjoyed the antics of Spike and of die-hard Mad Dogs fans who made the trip. The Hawks' season ended soon after as their late bill-paying got them locked out of Holman. Several Hawks fans then became Mad Dogs fans, notably one who shared the mascot's name. But this closure gave fewer fans to the Mad Dogs than it gave default victories to the Catskill Cougars, who came from nowhere to beat the Mad Dogs in the last North Atlantic league championship.

The Mad Dogs joined the Northern League for their three final years. 1-Sep-99 was the last Mad Dogs game, as the team prepared to take a one-year hiatus while a stadium was built in Hartford.

The Lost Years

In 2000 and 2001, Spike summered in a self-storage facility in Connecticut, but the Hartford stadium was never built. Management finally relocated to Wahconah Field in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, but gave locals the choice of team name, and the resulting Black Bears had no spot for an old dog.

Rebirth

Seeing that the vagaries of business were preparing to put down this uppity dog, the other Spike stepped in and arranged a merger of identities. The team insisted that the reborn dog entertain the fans at Wahconah, and this happened on 23-Jun-02. Spike also returned to Holman stadium, now reopened by the Pride, and made one visit to the Brockton Rox, but spent the most time in the collegiate summer league with the Concord Quarry Dogs.


Spike with bodyguard; and with Nashua Pride cheerleader "Cone Man" (whose megaphone in 2002 was classified a Prohibited Artificial Noisemaker)

Spike is down half a foot from his erstwhile height, although drastic and sudden changes in weight and height are routine for baseball mascots. As the official mascot, Spike wore Mad Dogs #39. He now wears a road uniform, Massachusetts #38. As small-scale scams involving baseball memorabilia resulted in the loss of his permit to carry, the trademark Super Soaker is replaced by a Wiffle-ball bat.

Technical Details

Spike displays extreme curiosity about fans' hairstyles, clothing, and cell phones; wanders into the press box, team bus, and bullpen; stomps around with clenched fists as though in a hurry to scold someone; stalks your team's mascot; and signals opposing players to bunt or issue an intentional pass in inappropriate situations. Sometimes he just sits in a lawn chair and keeps a scorecard. He is adequate with a bucket of noisemakers that includes a set of cowbells. Apart from that, he has no routine and utterly no dance moves.

Generally, Spike does not talk, being a dog, and obeying the usual sports-mascot Omerta. However, when anyone named Héctor or Otis bats for the opposing team, Spike moves directly behind home plate and salutes him loudly by first name, just as the ball is pitched.

Aside from promised appearances, Spike turns up at games if the temperature is mid-70s or cooler with no rain in the forecast. A makeshift ice vest doesn't exactly make the experience comfortable but provides something pleasant to concentrate on. Spike endorses Febreze fabric refresher and is more nearly clean than in years (for those who like that new-car smell). He ingests the business end of a Black & Decker leaf blower after every performance.

Here are Spike's jerseys:

JerseyAcquiredComments
Mad Dogs #39NoBelieved to be kept by the original Spike
Massachusetts #382002Included in the purchase of the suit
Pride2003A gift from The Ripper, worn to Nashua
Dodgers #26 2004 Acquired at Nashua Pride old-timers commemoration

Repairs. Spike's front paws, worn from thousands of handshakes, were cheerfully re-sewn on short notice in 2004 by Costumes of Nashua. They also repaired the worn elastic of the hind paws and re-sewed them to more tightly fit the shoes inside.

Future Plans

Spike will continue to visit local ballparks at random to show impressionable kids of any age that unpredictable and delightful things happen there. He makes a perfect, street-smart foil or chump. If you had enough authority to invite a guest mascot and could guarantee Spike's personal safety, he might show up without mention of payment. He has, after all, a day job with flexible hours and he's not giving it up. He doesn't do birthday parties on any terms.
Text and images Copyright © 2002-04 by Spike, Brentwood, N.H., All rights reserved, except: The #39 photo is from the original Spike, and the dog logo is an adaptation of a trademark of the Massachusetts Mad Dogs.
Appearances: 2003 ... 2004 ... 2005 ... 2006 ... 2007 ... 2008 ... 2009-10

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