Culture / Origin Story

How Superstition and the Opera Gave Birth to Mascots

The dark origins of the first mascots.

by Michael Imhoff via SB Nation on December 11, 2017

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If it wasn't for a 19th century French opera, American sports would look a whole lot different. Thanks to "La Mascotte," teams hired animals and children with disabilities to bring them good luck, and to get kicked to the curb when the magic stopped.