Wally the Green Monster Cracks Top Five in New Survey of MLB Mascots

Wally the Green Monster is having a better season in the court of public opinion than his team is having on the field. A new national survey by Bovada Sportsbook placed the Red Sox mascot fourth out of 28 in a ranking of the most-loved mascots in Major League Baseball.

The result comes at a difficult moment at Fenway Park, where Boston's home record stands at 10-21. Keeping spirits up in those conditions is no easy task for a mascot known for relentless cheerfulness.

Wally edged out Mr. and Mrs. Met, who took fifth place. The Phillie Phanatic finished first in the poll. The Oriole Bird took second, and the Pirate Parrot placed third.

The fourth-place showing marks an improvement over Wally's last appearance in a mascot survey. In last year's poll of the "sexiest mascots," he landed 22nd. In that same ranking, he finished well behind Slyde the Fox of the Boston Revolution.

According to a Bovada spokesperson, "The Red Sox mascot secured strong ratings for entertainment value (26.80%) and humor (21.03%)." That is a notable turnaround for a character who, according to the original report, many older fans wanted to pummel when he debuted in 1997.

The picture was less flattering when the survey looked at how fans rated the mascots of their own teams. The poll included 3,000 baseball fans. Among the mascots ranked as most loved within their own fanbases, Wally came in 14th and failed to crack the top 10.

Boston.com has invited readers to weigh in on whether Wally is living up to his mascot duties and whether he is the best mascot in Boston. Readers can respond through an online poll or by email, and some responses may be quoted in a future article.