MIAMI -- This one is for the mascots.

 

The ones who never test the free-agent market. Who will not leave the game early to avoid traffic. Who don't head for shelter during rain delays. And who truly are the face of their respective franchises.

 

This one is for Billy.

 

A sea creature who has been able to go national with a small-market franchise. A fish who makes being a mascot a lot more than merely cheering on a team for nine innings. And a marlin who sacrifices limbs -- actually, fins -- just to see the smile on fans' faces.

 

Beginning Monday, voting for the Mascot Hall of Fame will get under way, and this time around, Billy the Marlin -- the Marlins' mascot since the team's inauguration in 1993 -- is on a very short list of prestigious candidates for induction.

 

The Mascot Hall of Fame has been around since 2005, and there are currently only three MLB mascots enshrined -- the Phillie Phanatic, the San Diego Chicken and Mr. Met. That makes Billy the Marlin's accomplishments even more noteworthy, considering his franchise isn't usually considered among the Major Leagues' most popular.

 

"Billy has been great through the work he's done on and off the field," said Chris Bruce, vice chairman for the Mascot Hall of Fame, which also nominated Slider from the Cleveland Indians, along with eight other collegiate and professional mascots this year. "Part of it is the character, the other part is the performer.

 

"Billy the Marlin is a good-looking character. He garners a lot of attention, and he's had a positive impact for the team, organization and city."

 

John Routh has a motto he's acquired for most of his professional life: "Sacrifice the body for the laugh."

 

That's exactly what he did when he dressed up as Billy the Marlin for the first 10 seasons in franchise history.

 

During that time, Routh was almost hurled over the upper-deck railing by an intoxicated fan -- "Thank God my assistant is now a Hallandale [beach, Fla.] police officer," he said -- was tied up with athletic tape and pretty much left for dead in the outfield grass by John Kruk and some of his Phillies teammates, almost got beat up by former pitcher Terry Mulholland after accidentally hitting him on the head with a prop, was considered a source of bad luck to former Marlins ace Al Leiter -- right before he threw the franchise's first no-hitter in 1996 -- had mud thrown all over him by Mets relievers countless times and witnessed the character's head fall off while a Navy SEAL was parachuting into Dolphin Stadium.

 

He's had at least five knee surgeries.

 

He's had his weight fluctuate like a roller-coaster ride.

 

He's felt like he was going to pass out on many hot Sunday afternoons.

 

And he was never even able to fit into his well-deserved 1997 World Series ring.

 

"After we won, from Nov. 1 to the middle of January, we had a string where [the Marlins] had about three or four appearances a day, and I ended up losing like 35 pounds, so I was really skinny when they measured us for the rings," said Routh, who left the team after the 2002 season and now works as a mascot instructor at the college level. "But when they finally came in, I had put back on my normal weight, and I couldn't even wear it."

 

After Routh left, the person who had been his backup, John DeCicco, took over and has carried on the tradition for the past six years.

 

"He's shown so many skills as a performer," said Sean Flynn, the Marlins' vice president of marketing. "He's able to connect with the kids so well. He makes that connection, and it resonates every time.

 

"Billy is a huge asset to our organization. ... He's very valuable."

 

Voting for the Hall of Fame will run until Sept. 12, and a percentage of the fan vote will be counted. For a mascot to be enshrined, it must receive 75 percent of the vote, which includes several different committees within the Hall of Fame.

 

Routh's case is a special one.

 

Not only is Billy the Marlin being nominated for the Hall of Fame, but two of his other ex-characters -- Sebastian the Ibis (University of Miami) and Cocky (University of South Carolina) -- are also on the list. So there is a chance that all three of them can get inducted, but he won't get a chance to dress up as any of them at the induction ceremony.

 

But that's not a big deal for Routh. He said he'll show up wherever they have the ceremony, knowing he played a big role in each of their popularity. Besides, throughout his tenure, it's never been about notoriety or fame. It's been about making fans smile.

 

That was especially true as Billy the Marlin.

 

"The best part is when you go to a birthday party and all the kids come and hug you," Routh said. "Then you have those kids in the back who are too shy. Those are the kids I target as the day passes. And my goal is to win over their hearts before I leave. If they do, it was a good day,"

 

"[To be a good mascot,] you have to be entertaining, but you also have to be accessible," he added. "The Marlins have always made sure Billy the Marlin has been that."

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/articl...sp&c_id=fla

Billy > Phillie Phanatic

I don't see Billy as a 1st ballot HOF'er, that failed drug test will cause a lot of the Sports Writers of America to not vote for him, there is a Phillie bias in that voting, so expect the Phanatic to go in.

I don't see Billy as a 1st ballot HOF'er, that failed drug test will cause a lot of the Sports Writers of America to not vote for him, there is a Phillie bias in that voting, so expect the Phanatic to go in.

 

The Phanatic's already in the Mascot HOF.

Billy > All other mascots.

 

Billy = 1st ballot HOF'er.

I don't see Billy as a 1st ballot HOF'er, that failed drug test will cause a lot of the Sports Writers of America to not vote for him, there is a Phillie bias in that voting, so expect the Phanatic to go in.

 

The Phanatic's already in the Mascot HOF.

 

 

well then I guess nobody can get in this year, I told u the writers don't vote in people who have used steroids, and Billy tested positive for an anobalic steroid back in 2005, tainted his image forever. He didn't even know if he should go out to the games anymore. People brought posters callin him a cheater and threw syringes at him, but he fought threw it and is now a respected mascot

way to go billy!

I dont know, usually when a Marlin and a pickle fight the Marlin wins.

Congrats to Billy :lol :.

 

Sebastian the Ibis (University of Miami)

 

I knew one of the guys who was Sebastian while I was at Miami .

Again HTF is MR MUT in the Mascot HOF

I don't see Billy as a 1st ballot HOF'er, that failed drug test will cause a lot of the Sports Writers of America to not vote for him, there is a Phillie bias in that voting, so expect the Phanatic to go in.

 

The Phanatic's already in the Mascot HOF.

 

 

well then I guess nobody can get in this year, I told u the writers don't vote in people who have used steroids, and Billy tested positive for an anobalic steroid back in 2005, tainted his image forever. He didn't even know if he should go out to the games anymore. People brought posters callin him a cheater and threw syringes at him, but he fought threw it and is now a respected mascot

that's right josh hamilton said billy was an inspiration for him

Putting aside any possible bias as a Marlins fan I really do think Billy is a great mascot. Most others look lame by comparison. He does a good job and when he dances, which can't be easy in that costume, he's got rythm. Could definitely take any other mascots in a dance off.

Voting: http://www.mascothalloffame.com/