Baseball Mascots Stir Up Fandom as Opening Day Kicks off 2016 Season

— -- Play ball!

With the 2016 Major League Baseball season kicking off on Sunday, millions of fans will head to the ballpark this year to see their favorite teams play. But they’ll also be able to enjoy their favorite in-between innings entertainment -- the mascots!

ABC News spoke to David Raymond, the founder of the Mascot Hall of Fame and the man who brought the Phillie Phanatic to life from 1978 to 1993, to get some mascot insight.

The Phillie Phanatic looked at the 'Clown Prince of Baseball' for inspiration

Raymond said the one of the main influences for mascots came from Max Patkin, the former minor leaguer who was known as the Clown Prince of Baseball. In fact, Raymond modeled some of his Phillie Phanatic persona off of Patkin’s antics, saying, “The Phanatic looked at Max Patkin to see how he could have fun with the fans. Max Patkin was pretty much the God for me in terms of how to entertain at a baseball game.”

Many mascots are just as good shape as the athletes

Mascots perform alongside some of the world’s elite athletes and Raymond said many performers are equally athletic. “The characters have to be as physically fit as any of the athletes. The mascots are dealing in extraordinarily hot conditions, and it’s exceptionally difficult physically,” Raymond said.

Mascots work more than just baseball games

Mascots make in excess of 300 appearances a year, from games to functions outside the ballpark, including hospital and school visits, and ABC News' own "Good Morning America." For example, Raymond said the Phillie Phanatic has entertained at both a funeral and the Supreme Court Justices’ Chambers.

There’s a Mascot Hall of Fame

In addition to the San Diego Padres “unofficial mascot,” the San Diego Chicken, three MLB mascots have been elected to the Mascot Hall of Fame: Mr. Met (New York Mets), Phillie Phanatic (Philadelphia Phillies) and Slider (Cleveland Indians).