Sunday, January 29, 2023

Celebrity Jersey Cards #621: Mascot Week Edition Youppi! & Geoffrey

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I make virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Today, I end Mascot Week with a special edition CJC featuring mascots. (Yes, I know Sunday starts a week, but I goofed my days.)

Poor Youppi. First the Montreal Expos left for DC and abandoned him. Then he was picked up by the Montreal Canadiens, but lost a mascot bet and had to wear a New York Rangers jersey. He doesn't look too happy about it. Youppi, French for Yippee, debuted in 1979. He was the first mascot to be thrown out of an MLB game. In 2020, he was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame, the first Canadian mascot to receive that honor. He would probably be saddened to see his first CJC sporting the NY Rangers jersey, but the CJC rules dictate mascots must only appear in other jerseys.


Geoffrey started as "Dr. G. Raffe," a representative for Children's Bargain Town. In 1965, the store became Toys "R" Us and the rep became Geoffrey. With the end of Toys "R" Us, Geofrrey appeared to be headed to strictly nostalgic merch status, but with the brand being picked up by Macy's, Geoffrey lives on. Several years back, he joined Toronto Blue Jays mascot BJ Birdy to celebrate the opening of a store in Canada, thereby earning his Celebrity Jersey Card.

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