"The '70's may have brought us bell bottoms and disco, but they also saw the beginning of the mascot craze in professional baseball. In 1984, the Giants decided to try their hand at the mascot game, but with their own special twist: They created the 'anti-mascot.'l
The creature they unleashed was the now-legendary (and infamous) Crazy Crab. The idea was to poke fun at traditional mascots, and television commercials depicted manager Frank Robinson having to be restrained from attacking the crustacean. Fans were encouraged to boo and hiss the phony mascot, who was portrayed by actor Wayne Doba.
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The prodding worked all too well. With a 96-loss season soothing no souls, Crazy Crab became the object of hatred and abuse. The crowd would hurl all sorts of things at the beast, both verbally and literally, and even players got into the act, dumping drinks and other things into the suit.
Broadcasters Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper, both players during the year of the Crazy Crab, were asked if they ever had trouble with him. Their response: 'No, we used to drill him with the rosin bag daily, so he was scared of us.'
The nightmare for the bug-eyed object of foam derision ended after just one season. The Giants would not attempt another mascot, 'anti' or real, until 1997, when Lou Seal made his cautious debut. But no mascot will likely ever again as sharply define the term 'love-hate' as the vaunted Crazy Crab."
- From the San Francisco Giant's website: sfgiants.com
The website dedicated to a return of baseball's greatest & worst mascot ever.
REHAB THE CRAB!
The Crab is DUE! He's ready to break out. Look at the poor guy. He's been on the shelf for 24 years - but he's been keeping in game shape. Its time for the call up. You thought Kevin Bowker deserves
a starting spot? How about the Crab?!
Besides, at only one year of big-league experience, he'd bring more youth to the team that the Giants sorely need! Plus - no history of injuries! Even Rowand loves him some Crab!
