The official mascot for the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team is the Phillie Phanatic. The Phillie Phanatic is a large, furry, green flightless bird with an extendable tongue. He performs various routines to entertain fans during baseball games at Citizens Bank Park and makes public relation and goodwill appearances for the Phillies. The Phanatic is widely acknowledged as one of the best ballpark mascots, and one of the most recognizable mascots in North American sports. The Phillie Phanatic was first unveiled to the public on April 25, 1978. Prior to the creation of the Phillie Phanatic, the Phillies had other mascots that were tied to the citys history, such as Philadelphia Phil and Phillis, which resembled colonial-era dolls. The Phanatic was introduced to bring more fans into the stands, and he replaced the older mascots.