# Who should be in the London mascot race **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 28, 2019, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201 "2019-06-28T03:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/1 "2019-06-28T03:49:59Z")
You may know that there are going to be Major League Baseball games in London this weekend. What you may not now is they’re also going to [have a mascot race](https://www.mlb.com/cut4/the-london-series-mascot-race-features-churchill). The contestants seem pretty random, so why don’t we pick a better set? My thought, since we’ve already got Churchill in, why not Lloyd George/Disraeli/Thatcher? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/2 "2019-06-28T05:03:15Z")
Every race needs a dark horse to root against. How about some of the more villainous monarchs? John, Richard III, Bloody Mary, and crypto-fascist Edward VIII? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/3 "2019-06-28T05:10:00Z")
Jack the Ripper ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/4 "2019-06-28T09:16:58Z")
Cardinal Fang. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/5 "2019-06-28T09:56:40Z")
If they’re going to have to be recognizable mascot costumes, how about… Henry VIII (as painted by Holbein), Boy George, Sherlock Holmes and Queen Victoria. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/6 "2019-06-28T10:44:02Z")
Jean Shrimpton, icon of Swinging London Samuel Pepys, bearing the cheese he buried to save it from the Great Fire The Krays\* (villains) Boudicca (as she burned London down, also a villain) Dick Whittington and/or his Cat There are of course loads of people who achieved great things and were born in/lived in London, but it’s harder to find people whose greatness consists of achievements for or in London - and who are recognisable. Churchill was in London when he was in government, obviously, but his achievements were for the whole UK. Harry Beck is responsible for the iconic tube map, but how would you recognise him? Of course, mascots aren’t necessarily human, so you could have a tube train. \*in two minds about this, as they are undeniably iconic but also basically witless thugs with good PR who don’t need more glorification. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/7 "2019-06-28T12:06:36Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Cardinal Fang. Pantomime Princess Margaret. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/8 "2019-06-28T12:13:04Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Of course, mascots aren’t necessarily human, so you could have a tube train. How about a TfL sign? Shouldn’t be hard to construct a circle and bar to strap on a runner. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/9 "2019-06-28T13:39:14Z")
They could run Charles I and have him win by a head. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/10 "2019-06-28T14:59:26Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Cardinal Fang. Unexpectedly, he’s Spanish (and played by an American). If you’re going to pick a Python character, surely the Minister of Silly Runs should be in the running. Or one of the [Upper Class Twits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGxSM5y7Pfs). ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/11 "2019-06-29T00:07:09Z")
Harry Potter, Frodo, Alice, and Mickey Mouse. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-in-the-london-mascot-race/836201/12 "2019-06-29T13:16:59Z")
Shakespeare - not born in London but spent most of his time here, and easy to recognise. Same for Dickens David Bowie would be a good relatively modern one Queen Victoria Charlie Chaplin Elizabeth I Elizabeth II - even though I’m not sure about including anyone still living, it would be amusing to see someone run dressed as her > [@Colibri](#): > > Every race needs a dark horse to root against. Thatcher was already suggested in the OP.