Mascot Week: Tessie of the Boston Red Sox

In 2016, Tessie joined her older brother Wally the Green Monster, as the Boston Red Sox added a new mascot.  "Tessie" has a fascinating history.

The original version of "Tessie (You Are the Only, Only, Only)" was written by Will R. Anderson and was  in the Broadway musical The Silver Slipper, which ran in 1902-03.. The song was about a woman singing to "Tessie," her beloved parakeet.

A bunch of loyal Red Sox fans, known as the Royal Rooters, adopted the song as a rallying cry for their beloved team.  It is said that in the 1903 World Series, with the Red Sox down 3-1 (in a best of 9 series) to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Royal Rooters sung Tessie as the Red Sox came roaring back and won 4 straight to take the series.

The Royal Rooters stopped singing in 1918.  The Red Sox won the World Series in 1918, then went 86 years without a winning another one.

in 2004, intending to bring back the spirit of the Royal Rooters and to get the Red Sox back on the winning track,  the Boston-area celtic punk group Dropkick Murphys recorded a cover of "Tessie,"  In true Hollywood fashion, the Red Sox won the World Series that year, ending the 86 year drought.

"Tessie" is featured in the movie Fever Pitch and was also on the DVD of the 2004 Red Sox season.  It is one of a few songs played after every Red Sox win.

I never knew there was another mascot for the Red Sox, let alone the great history behind it.  I just saw the mascot at a Spring Training game last year and got the picture.

On another note, Tessie has to be one of only a few female mascots.  I have no idea how many there actually are, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.  Even Tessie was only added as a counterpart to an existing male mascot.

Tessie and me in Fort Myers, FL-March 2017.