Tommy Lasorda’s clash with the Phillie Phanatic remains a legendary moment in sports history. The incident, which took place 36 years ago in 1988 at Veterans Stadium, saw the Los Angeles Dodgers manager losing his cool and engaging in a physical altercation with the popular mascot.

Dave Raymond, the man behind the Phanatic from 1978 to 1993, reminisced about the event, where Lasorda, fed up with the Phanatic’s antics, lashed out at the beloved mascot. The clash was unscripted, unlike the typical taunts the Phanatic directed at visiting teams.

Despite their previous friendly interactions during tours with MLB All-Stars in Japan, Lasorda had grown tired of the Phanatic’s antics, particularly the constant jokes at the Dodgers’ expense. The breaking point came when the Phanatic paraded a dummy dressed in a Dodgers uniform, which Lasorda perceived as a deliberate jab.

The confrontation turned physical when Lasorda aggressively approached the Phanatic, leading to a comical yet chaotic scene of wrestling and tussling between the two. Lasorda’s attempt to remove the Dodgers jersey from the Phanatic and the subsequent whack on the mascot’s head with a mannequin added to the absurdity of the situation.

Surprisingly, the Phanatic, with its larger-than-life stature, managed to hold its ground against the irate Lasorda, who struggled to match the mascot’s physical presence. Despite the intense showdown, the two eventually reconciled later that year, maintaining a friendship until Lasorda’s passing in 2021.

The clash between Lasorda and the Phillie Phanatic has become a legendary moment in mascot history, sparking conversations and fascination among sports fans worldwide. Despite the absurdity of the incident, it remains a standout event in the annals of sports lore.