Blooper (mascot)

Blooper was introduced on January 27, 2018, at the Atlanta Braves fan fest.^[1] Blooper succeeded the Braves' "Homer the Brave" mascot after he went into retirement.^[2] According to the Braves, he's a "product of science run amok", meaning Blooper is everything that makes a Braves' superfan that came out of a machine.^[2] He's nearly 7-foot tall and wears a 5XL T-shirt.^[2] While fan reception was mixed at first, after the Braves won the 2021 World Series Blooper was welcomed by Braves fans all over the region.^[3][4]

Blooper has generated attention on and off the field. In 2019, Blooper pulled off lucrative stunts on both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper.^[5] In May of that season, Blooper approached the Padres star for an autograph on a large poster board. Once signed, Blooper revealed it was an oversized check for $300 million—the total value of the contract Machado had recently signed. A month later, Blooper, sporting a judge's robe and wig, called Harper over into foul territory and showed him a board reading "I declare June 16, 2019 'National Bryce Harper Day.'" When Harper signed the proclamation, Blooper revealed that it was actually another oversized check for $330 million—the total value of the contract Harper had recently signed.^[5]

During the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season, Blooper dressed up as famous characters like The Mandalorian, Bob Ross, and Guy Fieri.^[6] In 2021, Blooper took a shot at the city of Cincinnati by declaring chili doesn't go on spaghetti.^[7] The declaration ended up as a feud on Twitter as the Cincinnati Reds and Skyline Chili Twitter accounts responded to Blooper.^[7]

After the Braves won the 2021 World Series, Blooper and Braves outfielder Joc Pederson were invited by Georgia Bulldogs football coach Kirby Smart to Athens Georgia.^[8] The two were honored during a Georgia Bulldog football game.^[4] During a timeout in the game, Pederson and Blooper were cheered by fans when they were introduced on the 10-yard line.^[4]