Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1993 TAG: 9312150174
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
After 16 seasons of inciting fans and taunting opponents dressed as a 300-pound bird with bad breath, Dave Raymond is hanging up the size 20 shoes he wore as the Phillie Phanatic.
Raymond, 37, the first performer to don the costume with bright-green feathers and megaphone-sized protuberance for a nose has decided to retire to become a partner in a new sports marketing company, he said Tuesday.
"After 16 seasons, I can't see taking the Phanatic any further," said Raymond, 37. "It's scary, I'm going to be sad to say goodbye to a lot of people at the Phillies."
The size 20 shoes won't be easy ones to fill for the next Phanatic.
"He's been great, let's say he's done a phanatical job," said Steve Dennis, a spokesman for Ted Giannoulas, the "San Diego Chicken" whom Raymond said the Phanatic was originally modeled after.
The company Raymond is joining will be in the business of designing mascots and providing entertainment for professional, minor-league and college sports.
Don Beaver, the owner of the Hickory Crawdads of the South Atlantic League, will buy the Carolina League's Winston-Salem Spirits from Larry Schmittou, subject to the approval of Major League Baseball, Schmittou said. The Carolina League directors have approved the sale, he said. Sale price was estimated at $2.2 million for a property Schmittou bought for $1.4 million. Plans call for the Spirits to remain as the Cincinnati Reds' Class A affiliate. John Rocco will remain the general manager.
Former Salem Buccaneers right-handed pitcher Doug Harrah was selected under the Plan 5 draft by the Chicago Cubs organization for its Class AAA Iowa affiliate. The Plan 5 draft is for players who are left unprotected on 40-man major-league rosters. Harrah went 8-5 with a 4.23 earned run average in 115 innings at Salem last year.
Al Unser, 54, the oldest Indianapolis 500 winner and the oldest driver still active in Indy car racing, will drive a new Lola-Cosworth in 1994 for the AMS Racing team of Indianapolis.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB