Tulsa Drillers Mascot, Hornsby, Nominated For The Mascot Hall Of Fame Class Of 2025

Mascots have been a part of sports since the 1880s, when a little boy named Chic carried bats and ran errands for baseball players, becoming the team's good luck charm. But it wasn't until the San Diego Chicken "hatched" in 1974 that their popularity exploded.

Here in Tulsa, a big, blue bull has been entertaining Tulsa Drillers fans, young and old, since 19-96....Hornsby.

"Hornsby is an icon. He's an integral part of what we do here at ONEOK Field on a Drillers game day," says Drillers assistant GM Justin Gorski. "Whether it's cheering on fans, signing autographs, or interacting with the crowd, all eyes are on him."

Not only has he been bringing smiles, but he's also been making a difference with more than 200 community appearances a year, along with his Sugar Strike Out Program and Hornsby's Bully Buster Program. Now the "Love-a-bull" mascot is getting some national attention. The Mascot Hall of Fame announced its nominees for its Class of 2025 earlier this month, and Hornsby is one of four Minor League Baseball mascots on the ballot.

"It's about time. No, it's an honor, it truly is. Hornsby is an icon to us and to Tulsa," says Gorski. "But it's great that he's finally getting nationally recognized a little bit. We joke around about it, we said he should have been there many years ago. But it really is to the character of the Drillers, the character of Tulsa."

And the fact that his name is listed alongside other famous mascots like Fred Bird, Albert, and the Oregon Duck on the potential honorees for the class of 2025 has left Hornsby speechless.

In fact, he really can't put into words what it would mean to him to be in the Hall of Fame alongside such iconic mascots as the San Diego Chicken and the Phillie Phanatic.

And while he waits for the Class of 2025 to be officially announced in June, he will continue to bring smiles, laughs, and fun to the ballpark.

And you can help get into the Hall of Fame. The Mascot Hall of Fame is taking your votes from now until May 25th. Here's the link to the website www.mascothalloffame.com. You can go and vote once every day.