Congratulations, Mrs. Met
As someone who was born a fan of the New York Mets (a Major League Baseball team, for my non-sports-fan friends), I have always known that Mrs. Met is an icon. In fact, I think even Mr. Met, her husband and co-mascot, would consider her his true ‘better half.’ No matter how the Mets are doing, Mrs. Met is there, welcoming all, leading the crowds in supporting the team, spreading joy, and representing women fans. I genuinely
can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to meet her or think she was a badass…so you can imagine how excited I was when I learned she had been voted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Everyone now finally recognized her status as the Queen of Queens and more. I was among those fans who had campaigned for her to be voted into the Hall of Fame for more than one year, but in 2026 the trend towards victory felt stronger. I bought the “I Voted for Mrs. Met” shirt. I told my friends to vote. I shared all the videos from her social media pages. When it was announced that she would be a part of the Mascot Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, I literally squealed. I even forgave the Mets for that brief period a year or so prior when they thought Mrs. Met’s Instagram page could be stopped and she could simply be a part of Mr. Met’s page. Then, I bought tickets to attend Mrs. Met’s pre-game birthday party on September 5th, an event which quickly evolved to double as her Mascot Hall of Fame inauguration.
Saying I was so excited is an understatement.
You see, Mrs. Met had always been a history maker. She was the first female mascot in Major League Baseball and, beyond that, she is widely recognized as the first female mascot in professional sports (in the US, at least). Now, thanks to her election victory, she was about to become the first woman mascot to enter the Mascot Hall of Fame. Hers is a path truly worth celebrating.
To give a little background on the woman of the hour: Mrs. Met first burst onto the scene in the mid-1960s, joining Mr. Met as a mascot for the nascent New York Mets. She was single in those days and went by the name Lady Met. She sported an orange bob haircut, wore a dress, and was the representative of women Mets fans who’d formed the Lady Met Club. By the mid-1970s, she’d married Mr. Met and changed her name to Mrs. Met. Her look evolved over the years and now she is best known for her baseball head, trademark brunette ponytail, wide and expressive eyes, playful confidence, sense of humor, and sweet personality. She is a staple at Mets events and beloved by all who meet her. In a world where women have difficulty feeling like professional sports (especially men’s professional sports) have a welcomed place in team fandom, Mrs. Met’s existence and stardom gives us a little bit of hope. Where she is, you know women are welcome.
She’s also a kickass party thrower. I should have anticipated this, but I did not. I thought it would be a cute little event I could attend with my friend Jill before watching a game. But, as the day got closer, details emerged. Not only would we get a gift for attending, it would be a pretty great one: a special, well-made tote personally signed by the honoree herself. Plus, the guest list was absolutely stellar. In addition to Mr. Met (obviously), we would get to party with mascots from across sports who were either members of the Mascot Hall of Fame or fellow women mascots there to support Mrs. Met as she made history.
Being someone with a deep love of characters, I went down the rabbit hole, devouring everything I could to learn about the mascots scheduled to appear. I needed to be prepared so that if I got to meet them, I would be ready. What I found was a beautiful world filled with mascots with detailed backgrounds, unique personalities, impeccable vibes, and devoted followings. They have histories that are intricately tied to their teams and the fans who love them. They have specific looks and ways of engaging with the fans. They have traditions for in-game interactions and styles that made me want to go see each of them in their natural element to have the full experience. Reading about them and finding their social media presences (which I've linked to at the bottom of this entry) made me feel like I was entering the sports version of Disney World, where each team was like a new world where I could learn its story and meet its royalty.
Jill and I arrived at Citi Field before Mrs. Met’s big event started and honestly, the only negative I can say about it is that it took a very long time for us to get let in, which means I didn’t get to meet every single mascot. That said, I wouldn’t change a minute of what we did get to experience. The vibe was pure bliss. There was music, games, refreshments, and a dance floor that was constantly packed.
We got on Mrs. Met’s receiving line and I immediately knew it was going to be a wonderful time when Violet (from the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries) came over to visit with us. She is a stylish purple raven who is generous and clearly loves music. I loved her style, especially her glasses (she is nearsighted like me!), because as a glasses wearer, I’m always perked up when someone else wears them too. Violet was kind enough to pose with us all and gave me my first selfie of the day. She’s one special bird.
Next, we got to meet Nutasha, the perky, playful, superhero squirrel who is one of two mascots representing the Richmond Flying Squirrels (a Minor League Baseball AA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants). I’d thought Nutasha’s Instagram spot about receiving her invitation to the event was lovely, so I was happy to find her. She favors sweet pink bows and made history herself earlier this year when she became the first female mascot to appear on a Minor League Baseball uniform. How wonderful is that?
Our time with Nutasha was followed swiftly by a meeting with Caroline, the fashionista dragon co-mascot of the Charlotte Knights (a Minor League Baseball AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox). Caroline did a wonderful Instagram takeover that detailed her trip to New York for Mrs. Met’s inauguration that I was excited to compliment her on. She was as gracious as you would hope and I really enjoyed her choice of purse–a heart-shaped baseball that many, many women I know would definitely want to use. Plus, let’s face it, I’m a medievalist by training, so a dragon mascot representing a team called the Knights was right up my alley.
As we made our way toward Mrs. Met, and we kept meeting her friends, one of my favorite aspects of the event became how kind everyone was to each other. The crowd was made of every demographic you could imagine and everyone presented as just really excited to be there. I had a lovely exchange with the woman behind me on line who wanted me to explain each mascot’s identity to her. I saw people helping each other make sure they got photos and dancing together even when they didn’t know one another. I fully admit, I did not expect to feel such joy and togetherness. As I met mascot after mascot, I kept thinking that I had no idea there was such a presence of women mascots in sports, that I loved them all, and I wanted to know everyone.
Next, I met collegiate rockstar Roxy, a red hawk who is part of Montclair State University’s mascot family. Roxy is the consummate cheerleader. She’s high energy and full of spunk. I loved watching her move through the crowds with confidence and strike the perfect power pose with every fan who came her way.
I was possibly the most jubilant when I saw Zippy, University of Akron’s kangaroo mascot. I have absolutely no ties to the University of Akron–in fact, I embarrassingly mispronounced Akron when I was explaining to someone who Zippy was. (Shout out to Zippy’s PR team, as they were so kind and told me most people don’t know Zippy on sight out here–well I did and lots of folks do now!) Zippy is freaking adorable and she showed up dressed for the party, with a wonderful pink skirt and a silver ‘happy birthday’ crown that made me want to hug her. She is as bouncy as you'd want a kangaroo to be and immediately came my way when I got too excited to hold back from shouting her name. I loved our interaction and walked away from it a massive fan of her cuteness and warm nature. I later learned that she has a wonderful history of dressing for the occasion and is the first female mascot to sign an NIL deal–meaning she can do things like sign endorsement deals. Talk about epic.
Then, there was Ellie. Ellie the elephant who brings the sass to the WNBA’s New York Liberty truly made my friend Jill light up. She was so excited to see Ellie, with her undeniable city-girl energy and her top-notch style (she was able to climb a fence while dancing without chipping an impeccably-manicured nail!) It became my mission to get Jill a photo with her. Ellie was a people magnet, but she was also generous with her time. I loved meeting her, but seeing Jill light up for their photo made my heart swell.
Mrs. Met herself was working hard at her party, and when I finally got to her I could not help but marvel at her fancy, sparkly blue and orange dress and her equally glamorous baseball purse, which of course sported the Mets’ NY logo at the center. She wore a Hall of Famer sash and gave everyone who wanted her time a special moment where they could interact with her. I was proud to be among those wearing their “I Voted for Mrs. Met” shirts and was thrilled when it was my turn to offer my congratulations. The wait on the line was more than worth it.
There were so many mascots I really wanted to spend time with but, due to how long it took us to get in, I only got to interact with them in passing or from afar. Still, I loved seeing them all. Of course, Mr. Met was there supporting his wife and looking dapper as ever. Pepper from the Major League Volleyball team Indy Ignite had such a positive attitude and honored those of us waiting online with a mini catwalk-style strut that let us get wonderful photos. Hofstra University’s Kate Pride was the type of girl you clearly want on your team. You really got the feeling she was in it to win it. Diamond from the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays was energetic and had phenomenal dance moves. Seeing her here made me sad I missed going to a Jays game when I was in Toronto earlier this summer. Skye the lioness from the WNBA’s Chicago Sky was strong and fierce and appeared to have everyone else’s back. Tessie, the Green Monster from MLB’s Chicago Red Sox was beautifully youthful and enthusiastic. Plus, I read she likes sparkles which makes her a girl after my own heart.
I have a lot of friends with ties to Syracuse University so seeing Otto the Orange get down and bounce on the dance floor had me smiling. University of Delaware’s two mascots, YouDee and Baby Blue complimented each other well as they moved through the crowds with grace, always extending a wing (they are blue hens, after all) to all who wanted to meet them. To me, YouDee in particular was of interest. Preferring the pronoun “it”, YouDee is one of the few mascots to be genderless, something which I can see expanding in the mascot world over time. Emceeing this whole event was Reggy, the mascot from the Mascot Hall of Fame who has the distinct ability to talk, which most mascots do not. He gleefully led the conga line that rallied the mascots to gather together and then sing “Happy Birthday” to Mrs. Met. He also made sure that everyone he came in contact with was having a great time. I mean it with my whole heart when I say I wish I could have gotten photos with every single one of you.
By the time the birthday party aspect of the day concluded, I was in my glory. I couldn’t believe what a wholesome atmosphere the Mets fostered by hosting such a special day, and it only got better. Jill and I were in our seats early to make sure we got to see Mrs. Met’s official inauguration ceremony from start to finish. Those around us were as excited as we were. Seeing the collection of women mascots and previous inductees line up on the field and get introduced was truly sweet. There was a video tribute to Mrs. Met, showing how she makes game days more fun and also featuring her work as the face of the Mets outside of the stadium, be it for entertainment or charity purposes. No matter where she was shown there was a common theme: Mrs. Met made people smile. In the end, isn’t that all we can ask for–having experiences that foster joy?
It was great to have Marysol Castro (appropriately, the Mets’ first woman PA announcer) host the ceremony and read Mrs. Met’s acceptance speech. Watching the camaraderie among the mascots as they honored one of their own was exactly the kind of uplifting spirit that makes days better and seeing them celebrate Mrs. Met receiving her Hall of Fame ring got everyone cheering. It was a ceremony truly worthy of attending and I felt a swell of pride in my chest as I thought about our unforgettable Mrs. Met being so honored.
The day left a lasting impact on me. I told several of my friends how much I appreciate mascots. They spread delight and embody the whimsy we all could use in our lives. It’s a thankless job, being a close personal friend of a mascot, as often those in such a special position are asked to remain anonymous. I’m no fool, I know it can be hard, working so close to the public and sweating as you try to do the best job possible for people who might or might not treat you with respect. I hope they know how many of us truly do appreciate their efforts. I love what they do and I love the happiness they bring. If I could, still, I would work as close to mascots as I was able.
At the start of this baseball season, I had never met Mrs. Met, although it had long been my goal. When my friend Karen spotted her at a game back in April and I finally had my first chance to meet her, I was ecstatic. This excitement only continued as my poor friend Ray was unceremoniously dragged across field level when I saw her again a month later, and yet again when I went to a game with coworkers and another with my father. Each time I walked away from the experience with photos and a bounce in my step–especially after Mrs. Met applauded the Mrs. Met hat (that I got from the 7Line Army shop) I was wearing. If we don't take the time to appreciate these small moments of whimsical happiness, we are missing out on something wonderful.
Going to Mrs. Met’s special day meant that I got to share a space with other fans and mascots from a variety of professional and collegiate sports who were all there to celebrate the first woman going into the Mascot Hall of Fame. I’m not usually someone who gets swept up in party atmospheres or who shouts about girl power, though I am certainly proud to be who I am. This bright, warm September day though, I was truly moved by the commitment to lifting up a woman achieving a first. Players on teams come and go, often faster than fans would like, but mascots have the ability to be consistent forces for good. You know who they are, you know what they stand for, and you know they will be happy to see you. In a world where women are still working hard to be a serious and valued segment of sports fandom, it was extra special to be a part of a day that was all about honoring a woman as a sports icon. I will carry the warmth and joy I felt with me for a long time.
In the weeks since Mrs. Met’s big day, I have enjoyed seeing the mascots share their coverage of the event. They are sweet depictions of female friendship, celebration, and the good that can come from when we embrace unbridled excitement that comes with seeing women succeed in places where they had not been lauded before. I met so many fantastic, new (to me) mascots that I immediately followed as many of them online as I could and, yes, I am slowly collecting merch that features them–when I can find it. I want to be as supportive as I can, but it isn’t always as easy as it should be. Note to professional sports franchises and colleges: give us more mascot merch!
I am thankful to all of the people who voted for Mrs. Met to get into the Mascot Hall of Fame, the Mets for hosting such a great day for fans, and the close personal friends of the mascots who showed up to make the festivities extra special. It really was a day for the ages, and I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if I missed it.
Congratulations, Mrs. Met!
Follow the Mascots on Instagram
Mrs. Met: @MrsMet
Mr. Met: @MrMet
Mascot Hall of Fame: @mascothall
Zippy, University of Akron: @uakronzippy
Violet, Golden State Valkyries: @valkyriesvi
Caroline, Charlotte Knights: @cltknightscaroline
Diamond, Toronto Blue Jays: @bluejays
Ellie the Elephant, New York Liberty: @bigellieliberty
Kate Pride, Hofstra University: @hofstrau
Nutasha, Richmond Flying Squirrels: @nutzyandnatasha
Otto the Orange, Syracuse University: @theottoorange
Pepper, Indy Ignite: @pepperignite
Roxy the Red Hawk, Montclair State University: @roxyredhawk
Skye the Lioness, Chicago Sky: @skyeinthechi
Tessie, Boston Red Sox: @tessietgm
YouDee and Baby Blue, University of Delaware: @youdee00 and @thebabyblue000
Reads Linked in the Post
Golden State Valkyries Introduce “Violet” (2025) @ Golden State Valkyries
A Step Back in Time: Zippy’s Past Halloween Costumes (2023) @ The University of Akron
Zippy Signs Historic NIL Deal (2024) @ The University of Akron
‘Skye the Lioness’ Named New Mascot of Chicago Sky (Andy Koval, 2024) @ WGN9
14 Fun Facts about the Orange’s Hall of Famer Mascot (Jay Cox, 2023) @ Syracuse University
YouDee, University of Delaware’s Mascot @ Mascot Hall of Fame
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