BREAKING NEWS! Dodgers Do the Unthinkable!

As unbelievable as it may seem, the Dodger have joined the MLB masses by adding a new entertaining element to their game.  It is something I didn't think would ever happen, but here it is.  We are on the dawn of something wonderful, terrible or frightening - depending on your perspective.

(pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

Today, on this April morn, the Dodgers have announced that they have added a mascot, and considering the teams recent trip 'Down Under' it should come as no surprise who it is.

After all, what would be a better way to celebrate the most hospitable folks of Australia and, at the same time, pay homage to a former stuffed marsupial that used to be an unofficial mascot for the team so many decades ago?  Heck, even our celebrated muse, Vin Scully, had a memorable run-in with the real thing a couple of weeks ago that went viral for all the world to see.

Folks, here is our new Dodger Mascot.  Please say hello to Charlie - Charlie the Dodger Koala!

As you may have already guessed, he is named after the original owner of the Dodgers, Charlie Byrne. (BTW, there's even more fantastic news below, so don't stop reading.)

And, as you can see below, he has already greeted some of our favorite Dodgers. 

It makes perfect sense that 'Uribear' would be overjoyed with Charlie.

As promised, here is some news that is even bigger than Charlie.  To introduce our new furry friend to the masses will be pop star Rebecca Black.  She will debut her very new single called, "I Like Charlie Best," before an Opening Day crowd at Dodger Stadium on Friday, April 4th.  I am wondering if it'll be a duet with Robin Thicke, since he'll also be at Dodger Stadium to entertain the fans.

I can't wait to sing at Dodger Stadium to sing my new hit single "I Like Charlie Best" with the new Dodger mascot!!!! pic.twitter.com/CIoT4uXbhR
— Reb Black (@RBlackRules) April 1, 2014

This post is made with my deepest apologies to Jon SooHoo, TMZ and Ms. Black for commandeering some of their photos.  I am a very bad man.

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The Dodger Koala

A couple of days ago, Jon Weisman at the @DodgerInsider on twitter shared a photo of something many older Dodger fans will remember.

Old school Dodgers koala http://t.co/PiHk4d2JRJ pic.twitter.com/gUxIgcWc6I
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) March 19, 2014

Way back in the 80's, the Dodgers had a Blue Crew fan club for kids that had a Koala Bear as a mascot. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but this was the closest the LA Dodgers ever came to having a team mascot.  The Koala Bear became a symbol of youthful Dodger fandom, and many kids dutifully signed up and cherished that little stuffed mammal. 

Naturally, as a devoted collector of everything Dodgers, I have a Koala in my possession and had to pull it out for 'show and tell'.  See it below.

As you can see, it's very different from the Koala Jon showed in his tweet.  In fact, based on a quick search on eBay there were numerous different kind of Koala's made.

My favorite might be this catcher Koala.

(eBay auction link)

So, does anyone else have an old Dodger Koala sitting around, or am I the only one?

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