3. The Phanatic took a hiatus to search for his long-lost father.
Every Mother’s Day, we typically see the Phillie Phanatic alongside his mom, Phoebe Phanatic. Yet, every year when Father’s Day arrives, there is no sign of the Phanatic’s dad. Where is he?
Spending and cherishing quality time with family has been one of the most important things to do during the pandemic, and the Phanatic finally was determined to find his dad.
He intended to step away from the team during spring training, hence why the revised Phanatic was revealed. This Phanatic was actually another stunt double from his movie days … but the early intention was only for the Phanatic to miss Grapefruit League action and would be home in time for Opening Day.
Booking a flight to the Galapagos Islands, the Phanatic soon realized that he would not be able to fly home due to travel restrictions. To make matters worst, he misplaced his passport, and had to overcome even more woes. He eventually returned to the U.S. and back home to Citizens Bank Park, but he had to spend extra time quarantining before he was allowed to work again.
By this time, the 2021 season was nearly complete, so the Phanatic ultimately decided to just wait until the 2022 season to come back. Whether the Phanatic found his father or not remains to be seen.
These are just three of the many scenarios the Phillies can run with when the original Phanatic makes his long-awaited return. Let us know which storyline was your favorite, and/or if you have another fun idea in mind.