May 1, 2008 The Saint Louis University Billiken, who turns 100 this fall, will throw out the first pitch at Busch Stadium Sunday, May 4, when the Cardinals take on the Cubs. Fredbird, who debuted opening night 1979, will give the Billiken an early birthday present before the game. He'll also bring SLU's mascot along for some of his regular shenanigans in the park. In addition, the Cardinals will illuminate the centerfield scoreboard with a mention of the Billiken's 100th birthday. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., and the game will air nationally on ESPN and locally on KTRS Radio. SLU Director of Athletics Chris May will be a special guest in the radio booth and will be interviewed by John Rooney and Mike Shannon during the second inning play-by-play. The Billiken is Born Saint Louis University's Billiken is one of the truly unique mascots in college athletics. The Billiken was born on Oct. 8, 1908, when Kansas City art teacher and illustrator Florence Pretz patented a design for an elf-like creature with pixie ears, a mischievous smile and a tuft a hair on his pointed head. Reportedly, the image came to her in a dream. Although it didn't appear on the actual patent, some believe Pretz found the Billiken name in a fanciful work, "Mr. Moon: A Song of the Little People," by Canadian poets Bliss Carman and Richard Hovey. Within a short time, Pretz sold her patented image to the Billiken Company of Chicago. Initially manufactured as a bank, statuette and later a doll, this good luck charm soon became a national craze. By 1911, the Billiken's likeness adorned everything from marshmallow candies to hood ornaments. In his heyday, the Billiken enjoyed worldwide fame. Artisans in Alaska began carving his image into ivory, and in Japan, he appeared in shrines, amusement parks and even a movie. Saved from Obscurity; A Mystery Unfolds Like many other fads, the Billiken might have faded into obscurity if it were not for Saint Louis University law student, John Bender, who also happened to be the coach of SLU's football team during the height of Billikenmania. One story claims that nearby drugstore owner Billy Gunn called the coach a Billiken when he walked into his establishment one day. Supposedly legendary sportswriter William O'Connor was in earshot of the remark and took up the moniker not only for Bender but also SLU's sports teams. Another tale claims O'Connor himself dubbed the coach a Billiken after a particularly good practice left Bender beaming with a big smile. After practice, Bender's fellow law student Charles Z. McNamara, a local cartoonist, sketched Bender as a Billiken, posted it in Gunn's drugstore window and tabbed the football team "Bender's Billikens." Yet another yarn reports that the druggist asked McNamara to decorate his store window the night before a homecoming game. Supposedly McNamara drew a Billiken, a popular good luck charm, causing one of his fellow students to exclaim: "That looks like Coach Bender!" Whatever the case, O'Connor is generally credited for popularizing the name throughout the city, but one fact flies in the face of this legend and lore. O'Connor did not join the St. Louis Post-Dispatch until Nov. 26, 1911, one full month after the newspaper first mentioned "Bender's Billikens." Regardless of how the story is told or whether his mysterious origins are ever finally resolved, the Billiken remains a good luck charm for Saint Louis University's sports teams and always brings smiles to the faces of SLU fans. One last point on Billiken luck: To buy a Billiken gives the purchaser luck, but to have one given to you is better luck. Throughout his history at SLU, the Billiken has had many different looks, including early incarnations that more closely resemble the original drawings. The University's Billiken Hall of Fame display in Chaifetz Arena pays homage to the mascot with collectibles dating throughout the Billiken's 100-year history. |
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