Yankee Doodle Dandy - New York Yankees

Yankee Doodle Dandy was the mascot of the New York Yankees from 1979 to 1981. “Dandy” was a seven-foot-tall bird dressed in Yankee pinstripes who roamed the upper decks having fun with fans at the old Yankee Stadium, the “House that Ruth Built.” Dandy’s name came from the Broadway Musical and title song, Yankee Doodle Dandy about George M. Cohan the composer, lyricist, playwright, actor, singer, dancer, and producer of musicals often referred to as the “The Man Who Owned Broadway.” Dandy, however, was not modeled after Cohan but after Yankee catcher, Thurman Munson who had a large, bushy mustache. Shortly thereafter, in July of 1979, Yankee Doodle Dandy started work at Yankee Stadium. Sadly, it was on the second of August of 1979 that Yankee catcher Thurman Munson died in a plane crash. Because of the resemblance of Dandy to the popular Yankee catcher, Dandy was put on a leave of absence. Dandy was “on lease” from the folks who designed him and when the three-year lease was up, the Yan