![]() Hank in his mobile dog house | |
Species | Dog |
---|---|
Breed | Bichon Frise mixed-breed |
Sex | Male |
Born | Unknown, estimated to be 2-3 years of age in February 2014 |
Nation from | American |
Notable role | Unofficial mascot of the Milwaukee Brewers |
Owner | Wronski family |
Appearance | White with grey |
Named after | Hank Aaron |
Hank, also known as Hank T. Dog, [1] is an unofficial mascot of the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball. Believed to be a part-Bichon Frise mixed-breed of about two or three years of age, Hank was rescued by the Brewers when he wandered into their spring training facility before the start of the 2014 MLB season.
Hank was a stray dog when he wandered around the fields of the spring training facility of the Milwaukee Brewers, located at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 17, 2014. [2] [3] [4] Hank was first spotted by security guards, and was then taken inside the facility by Brewers coach Ed Sedar. Hank weighed 11 pounds (5.0 kg), had been run over by a car, and had two chipped teeth. [5]
Team officials attempted to find an owner, and when one could not be found, they rescued Hank. [6] They took him to a veterinarian, where he was treated for a laceration. [7] The organization named him Hank in honor of Hank Aaron. [8] Hank competed in a Sausage Race during a spring training game wearing a hot dog costume on February 26. [9] [10]
Hank's story went viral on social media, and was covered by many news outlets. [7] The Brewers received over 1,000 requests to adopt Hank. [11] Towards the end of spring training, the Brewers announced that Hank would remain with the team. [7] He was included on a charter flight to Milwaukee in March; its arrival at Mitchell International Airport was attended by Chris Abele, the County Executive for Milwaukee County, and Tom Barrett, the Mayor of Milwaukee. [11] [12] Fans met Hank at Miller Park in Milwaukee. [13] The team unveiled official Hank-themed merchandise. [4] Over a thousand shirts, bearing the name "Hank" and the number "K9", were sold on the first day. The Brewers donated 20% of the proceeds to the Wisconsin Humane Society at the end of the 2014 MLB season. [14] [15]
Hank was adopted by Marti Wronski, who works as the team's vice president and general counsel, and her family, who live in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. Hank was believed to be between two and three years old and a bichon frise mixed-breed. [3] The Brewers intend to have him attend many, but not all, home games. [14] By Opening Day, Hank's weight had increased to 15 pounds (6.8 kg). [5]
Bernie Brewer, the Brewers' official mascot, led Hank onto the field during introductions on Opening Day. [5] [16] The next day, Hank had neutering surgery. [17] Hank had a Bobblehead giveaway on September 13, 2014. [18] Hank met baseball legend Hank Aaron on August 21, 2014. [19] In January 2015, Hank won the Golden Hydrant award when he was named Dog of the Year at the inaugural World Dog Awards. [20] On May 10, 2015, Hank had another bobblehead giveaway in his honor. [21]
Henry Louis Aaron, nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. Considered one of the greatest baseball players in history, he spent 21 seasons with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) and two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League (AL). At the time of his retirement, Aaron held most of the game's key career power-hitting records. He broke the long-standing MLB record for home runs held by Babe Ruth and remained the career leader for 33 years. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973 and is one of only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times.
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. The Brewers are named for the city's association with the brewing industry. Since 2001, they have played their home games at American Family Field, which was named Miller Park through the 2020 season and has a seating capacity of 41,900 people.
A Bichon Frisé is a small breed of dog of the bichon type.
Robin R. Yount, nicknamed "the Kid", and "Rockin' Robin", is an American former professional baseball player. He spent his entire 20-year career in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and center fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers (1974–93).
A bobblehead, also known by nicknames such as nodder, wobbler, or wacky wobbler, is a type of small collectible figurine. Its head is often oversized compared to its body. Instead of a solid connection, its head is connected to the body by a spring or hook in such a way that a light tap will cause the head to move around, or "bobble", hence the name.
American Family Field is a retractable roof stadium used primarily for baseball. It is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, just southwest of the intersection of Interstate 94 and Brewers Boulevard. It is the home of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers, and opened in 2001 as a replacement for Milwaukee County Stadium. The stadium was previously called Miller Park as part of a $40 million naming rights deal with Miller Brewing Company, which expired at the end of 2020.
Geoffrey Scott Jenkins is an American former professional baseball outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers (1998–2007) and Philadelphia Phillies (2008). He is fourth on the Brewers’ all-time career home run list, trailing only Hall-of-Famer Robin Yount, 2011 National League (NL) MVP Ryan Braun, and former All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder. Following his playing career, Jenkins was on the coaching staff of the 2013 Peoria Explorers of the now-defunct Independent Freedom Pro Baseball League.
The Sausage Race is a race of sausage mascots held before the bottom of the sixth inning at every home game of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Sausage Race began as a promotion for the Klement's Sausage Company, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose sausages were served at American Family Field, the home of the Brewers. In 2021, Johnsonville sausages began being served at American Family Field and today are officially known as the Famous Racing Sausages.
Craig John Counsell is an American former professional baseball player who is the manager for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Counsell became the Brewers' manager in May 2015; he became the longest-tenured manager in the National League in 2021, and holds the franchise record for most managerial wins in team history.
Christopher Ralph Perez is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched collegiately for the University of Miami, and was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. Perez also played for the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers.
A mascot race is a promotional sports entertainment or charity competition consisting of costumed runners racing around a baseball field or race course, usually as a form of between-innings entertainment. The racers are typically anthropomorphized inanimate objects or mascots related to local culture, a sponsor's products, or sport culture. The outcomes of races can both be decided in a legitimate race or may be predetermined for purely entertainment purposes.
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Jorge Yabiel López Ramos is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, and Baltimore Orioles. He made his MLB debut in 2015 and was an All-Star in 2022.
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