We’ve all seen him, and we all love him.  Bob Brown Bear is a new fixture around the ballpark, greeting kids for high-fives and photo opps, while also catering to the needs of adults who need some mascot loving.  Bob Brown Bear’s handler talked to Nat Notes about the Bear.  Please show your kids at home!

Q: What is Bob’s favourite Nat Bailey Stadium meal?

A: Well, when Bob first got to the ballpark he definitely had a sweet tooth, eating more than his share of cotton candy and ice cream.  But as he saw how hard the players worked to stay in shape, he decided to focus more on things like the Bratwurst with mustard and the Nathan’s Hot Dog.  Did you know these hot dogs are the exact same ones as those at Yankee Stadium?  Bob loves telling our fans that we have the best hot dogs in the city!!!

Q: Who is BBB’s favourite mascot (other than himself, of course)?

A: Bob Brown Bear loves most mascots, including the Famous Chicken, most of all.  When the Chicken came to Nat Bailey this season, they became instant friends and both agreed that the only  mascot that needs a lesson in being nice was Chef Wasabi!

Q: What is his favourite Nat Bailey moment?

A: He loves meeting kids and giving them high-fives, but the best moment of them all?  It would probably be Opening Night, when the stands were full and the electric atmosphere in the crowd when he first arrived at Nat Bailey!

Q: Who does Bob prefer when it comes to Baseball players?

A: One of his favourite players locally  was Arnie Hallgren, the first BC born baseball player to break into the Majors.  Bob has a soft spot for any of the Oakland A’s players that have played in Vancouver as well!!

Q: Why is his name Bob Brown Bear?

A: Bob Brown Bear represents one of the baseball pioneers in Vancouver, Bob Brown.  Mr Brown was very active in keeping professional baseball alive in Vancouver for many years, and is long remembered as one of the men who gave baseball an identity in our city and paved the way for the likes of Nat Bailey and others to find their place into baseball’s history in this city!! 

Q: Is there any Northwest League team he likes to cheer for?

A: I’m not sure if Bob really likes any opposing teams in the NWL, but he is a diehard Canadians supporter and cheering for the visitors is really out of the question!  He does like fair play and likes players that perform well while being good ambassadors for the game of baseball.  Did you know Bob Brown Bear isn’t the only ‘Bear’ in the NWL?  Yep, there’s Boomer the Bear (right) in Yakima that also has a fan base in Yakima, but I got the feeling that there would be no hard feelings because both bears respect each other.

Q: Who would win in a fight?  Leo the Lion, Fin the Canuck, Bob Brown Bear?

A: A fight?  That isn’t really BBB’s style.  I can say this, if it came down to the love of the game, I think Bob’s up there with the best of them.  Also I think Bob Brown Bear could outsmart both Fin and Leo on the diamond, but I don’t believe he could outskate Fin or tackle as hard as Leo.

Q: Which does Bob prefer, a night time game or a Nooner?

A: Bob Brown Bear loves to get his tan on and wear sunglasses at Nooners.  Then again, he enjoys a good rest after a night of cheering, eating and giving hundreds of kids hugs.  Whoever uses the phrase "Don’t Feed The Bears" has obviously never met Bob Brown Bear.

Q: What can you say to kids that are too shy to come up to Bob?

A: Bob Brown Bear definitely knows there are some very shy kids and they can be intimidated by an eight foot bear, but there is always a secret the BBB can tell younger fans at the ballpark.  Close your eyes, hold out your hand, and Bob Brown Bear promises to give a super gentle, super soft, high-five!!!! If you can handle a high-five from Bob, chances are you can handle a wave, a huge or anything else that Bob Brown Bear is great at!

Q: Who could you cheer for if the C’s weren’t an option.

A: It’s the Canadians or bust for him.  If BBB absolutely had to support another team it’d be trying to put his support behind the UBC Thunderbirds in hopes of keeping their winning tradition going out at the ballpark.

Q: Why does Bob Brown Bear love being the C’s mascot?

A: BBB loves being the mascot simply because this is his home (Nat Bailey Stadium) and this is his hometown team! Everyone should get behind their hometown team and try to support them as much as possible.  Could you imagine Vancouver without the C’s? No way, but it takes all of us to try and help keep this team at the top of everyone’s minds so that’s why he loves his job – because it isn’t a job, it’s a responsibility to cheer on the C’s and let everyone know what they can do, to lead us to a Championship!!

I thank Bob Brown Bear’s handler and Bob himself for being a great mascot, and ambassador to the C’s.