Tampa Bay Rays' fired mascot speaks out

Performer Kelly Frank, the woman who perfected Raymond's trademark butt shimmy, said she does not know why she was fired Monday after five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I'm just as confused as everyone else," she said. "I really didn't get an explanation."

Frank said she was praised as recently as three weeks ago, when her supervisors told her she out-enthused the Philadelphia Phillies mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, during the World Series.

But on Monday, she was told she would no longer be Raymond. Frank also worked on marketing projects, including the cowbell promotions at several Rays games. She maintained a Raymond blog, offering insider tips on costume changes.

Frank said she was reluctant to discuss what happened Monday.

"My severance package is kind of up in the air right now, so ..." she said.

Frank said she will continue her side business making mascots for professional sports teams, including the University of Florida Gators and the Denver Nuggetts.

Frank, a native of Sunrise, said she will likely remain in St. Petersburg for another month before she relocates, hopefully for another job.

Rick Vaughn, the team's spokesman, declined to comment.

"But be assured Raymond will live on," he wrote in an e-mail.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Comments

[Phil]

Mike, you are an idiot.

[what?]

Well in my opinion I think it was very unprofessional for Kelly to go to the press with this story. She could have been classy and just said 'no comment'.

Kelly was great, no doubt. But this decision just didn't come out of nowhere. Surely there were other issues.

We all know there is more to this story than is being told. Raymond will live on!

Thanks for the memories Kelly!

[Amanda]

Carol! We missed you and your constant braying and moaning!
By the way, they raised ticket prices by ONE DOLLAR. Get something new to cry about.

sorry Raymond, the economy is not doing so good.

[mike]

Glad she was fired. That mascot is the WORST in any pro sport I have ever seen. They should do away with it completly. It was a bush league act back in 1998 and it never improved. The Rays are on the right track and upgrading. Get rid of Raymund as part of the upgrade!

[tiffany]

I agree with Jim. Bring Back Ex Thunderbug, Jason Franke, for the mascot. Everyone "BUG" him on his face book page to come back to Tampa!!! He would be hilarious as Raymond.
Kelly was a good Raymond, but I heard she had some off the field and front office problems. I'm sure she will pick up and be great some where else. Good Luck Kelly

[dirty-sneakers]

I was one of the fools who took pride in being a fan before the team was successful. Now we've been to one world series which every game was played too late for me to see to the end, and ticket prices have gone up, parking has gone up, food costs have gone up, no team support for Cowbell Kid, moved to Ft Meyers for spring training, and now Raymond fired during a terrible economic slump. Team moving to Orlando? I have a truck if you need help.

[Brian]

This is sad. Seems the very young and "immature" (to the sports world)ownership does this every off-season. They fire people without giving them a reason. I can't imagine what it would be like to work in their front office. It must be miserable to always be worried if you'll still have a job tomorrow. I'm sure glad I don't have to work for them! Kelly, you're better off for it. Now, go work for a REAL owevership group that realizes that employee morale is important. Seems they didn't keep their promise to change from the "Namoli" workplace. Very sad...

[Jack]

Okay, I know the inside scoop. "W" needs a job after the white house gig. If he is Raymond, then we won't see his face. This is in the national interest considering what he has done to devastate our country over the past 8 years. We don't want him anywhere near real authority ever again and also, remember, he is a baseball man.

[Carol]

Typical. A sports team FINALLY wins, FINALLY gets some fans, FINALLY starts putting butts in the seats..., so what do they do?, well, what every stupid sports team does - raise ticket prices AND fire a popular mascot. Nice Rays, real nice. And oh so smart. Guess what Rays, this butt won't be in one of those seats. I'm done.

[jim]

Shawn Christopherson was the one that paved the way for Raymond, just the way Jason Franke was the one that created ThuderBug. I worked and played with them for many years and there will be no one ever as good as them! Shawn is back in Seattle with his business and Jason is going back to the U of Minnesota for another degree. I think we should bring them both back, but switch teams. If the rays were smart they would try to get Jason back down here!!!! Thats it im face booking him!!

[Amanda]

This does suck, as I really enjoyed the current Raymond, and it's rough for Ms. Frank to lose her job at an economic time like this, too. This move is unfortunate on both parts, as Ms. Frank will be out of work (though temporarily, I'm sure) and we'll have a different Raymond from the one we've grown to love.
However, folks, this is NOT the end of the world! This does not make the front office Satan's minions, this does not mean the end of the Rays, this should have NOTHING (or very, very little) to do with fans remaining fans. It's unfortunate, yes, but things happen.

[scott]

REAL classy franchises don't need mascots, e.g. Yankees. Sounds mean or cold, but true - hey, ready for A mindless costume blocking YOUR view in a big situation??

[Not]

this truly sucks. im giving up my season tickets behind home plate. I liked go ole Ray(gurl). you owners are just nuts

She was very funny. My favorite was Gm 7 ACLS after we won, Raymond was lying on the ground as if he were dead. I was laughing so hard, I about wet my pants!

Good luck!

[AreaMan]

"Shawn, the original Raymond is working for an NFL team not to far from the Trop..........so he is not availiable for work."

Nope! He moved back to Seattle, and is working a Nordstrom store! Hah!

[steve]

This sucks, when the rays sucked, raymond was the only good thing about the organization. now that we r good we have to fire her. pathetic rays

The mascot is ridiculous.

[J]

Rays are in a cash crunch. Corporate sponsorships will be way down next year. Expect other cuts, and a payroll similar to last year. Kazmir, or Crawford will have to be sacrificed. All major sports teams, around the world, are bracing for hard times---just like everyone else. No job is safe in this environment.

[sour grapes]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! I was fired!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

[R for the Rays]

Awesome mascot...made me sad when I heard about Kelly being fired.You rocked Kelly...hope they change their minds about firing you.I will miss ya.

[DHS]

If I were you, Raymond, I would contact the three amigos over at the Palace. Rumor is they need a coach for the Lightning.

[Rays Renegade]

Shawn, the original Raymond is working for an NFL team not to far from the Trop..........so he is not availiable for work.

[Ryan]

Damn, we lose Magrane and Kelly in the same day. This freakin sucks.

[DD]

Bring the original Raymond back I'm sure he is available......

[St. Pete Lou]

Bad move. I usually don't like mascots, but Kelly as Raymond was funny and brought a great amount of joy to the game (especially back during the lean times). She'll be missed.

[Rays Renegade]

Kelly was doing a cheer in the 146-148 section of the stadium in right-field and she lost her balance and fell to the warning track. She broke her arm and was a cast even as Raymond at a couple of games.

Shawn did the same when he injured his knee in 2001...........that is taking one for the team people.

[Kelly]

Blantant lie/slander. Thanks

[Holly]

NO explanation to Kelly or Shawn, just dismissed? How unprofessional! Shame on the organization; they deserved better than that!

[McLovin]

1) She beat my cowbell during Game 2 of the ALCS... that was awesome.

2) Question: Didn't she break her leg a few years ago? If so, how? I don't remember the reason.

3) The cowbells aren't going anywhere folks. Either bring earplugs or GTFO.

[Reality]

to mr. or mrs Reality ... You obviously missed the point. Go back under your rock.

The focus at that point of my post was that Kelly was NOT the reason for games lost or empty seats. For a season peppered with successes and record breaking moments, the organization should have very little concentrate on, to continue this upward trend; however, the concentration should be upon those on the field and not those putting on 'the show around the show'.

[Paul]

She did a great job and the kids also loved her. Their must be a reason to let her go. Maybe we don't want to know.

[Rays Renegade]

Keith,
You are clueless if you think everything done on the 3rd floor is for the betterment of the team.

I was a vendor who got full access to the top floor for years and saw a few thing dome that were in the shade. Not to knock them, but all organizations make moves that are sometime not great in the light of day.

John F,, Stephanie R., should I keep putting up names.

[Jim]

I agree, she did a great job as Raymond and seemed to enjoy it. The kids loved seeing Raymond around and she was entertaining. I almost hate to hear them try to come up with a valid reason to let her go. As some said, someone else will get in the custom and maybe we won't notice a hugh change, but that doesn't take away from treating a person who was doing a good job in this manner.
Maybe their going to try to hire away 'Sunny' from Kellogg's Raisin Bran to go with the Rays theme.

[Phil]

After a brilliant season of baseball this is the outright DUMBEST move from this organization. The Rays never used Raymond to his full potential and never took advantage of him to help develop a young fan base of kids in the Tampa Bay area. I know Kelly and I can tell you there will not be anyone who can play Raymond nearly as well as her. This is a STUPID, STUPID, DUMB move by the Rays. Way to go! What a classless move!!

You idiots in the marketing department should have been fired!!!

[credence]

I hear they fired her when she hooked onto Scott Boras as her agent and demanded a 10-year contract.

[Ch]

Get Hammertime to do it!!!!

[Marjie]

Kelly was the best Raymond ever! This is one of the dumbest moves by the Rays. She really took time with the fans in and out of the stadium. She showed us that Raymond could have a personality. We will never forget Kelly/Raymond and the White Sox doll at the first ALCS game. What a shame that Kelly's talent will go elsewhere now.

[Keith]

Let's get something clear about the poster who said that the Rays' management doesn't treat front office employees well -- that is a complete lie. It might have been true about the Naimoli regime (I don't personally know that for a fact), but I know from first hand experience that nothing could be further from the truth about the current regime. They treat front office people great, and are complete professionals. Believe me, whatever reason they had for letting Kelly go, it was a good one. And it wasn't about money or not caring about what the fans think. More likely, it had to do with issues with her off-field behavior that fans never saw during games. Whatever it was, management will never make it public because they have more class than to trash her in the media. Raymond will be back; Kelly isn't exactly the only person in the world who can run around, shake her butt, and act silly for the kids. If this story had never run, 99% of fans would never have even realized that a new person was in the Raymond costume next year.

[Rays Renegade]

To clarify something here, the Rays principal owner suggested the cowbells becuase of the SNL skit, not Raymond.

And another thing, entertainment is critical if you have young fans with their parents at a game. Have you seen how fast a 4 year old loses focus if Raymond is not somewhere in the stadium.
Makes going to a game fun when you can watch the game and the kids can interact with the old Seadog.

I think this was a major error in judgement by management.........write to msilverman@raysbaseball.com if you agree.

[anon]

How do you know that there wasn't something actually behind the reason she was let go. We are only hearing one side of the story! That guy said they are not getting rid of raymond so everyone should just stop worrying about it! How do you know the next raymond won't be even better!

Its a baseball game! Relax!

[Sean]

Everyone said the same thing when they fired the PA announcer a few years back and the new guy came in and blew him out of the water. I'm looking forward to an upgrade.

[Gary J.]

How do the Ray's expect to increase
ticket sales when they eliminate the soul of RAYMOND with his unique personality. A major part of the RAY's
entertainment is now lost to history.

[Sookie]

This saddens me. Kelly was RAYMOND!

Being a season ticket holder and watching the interaction with the crowd, RAYMOND is the best mascott in the league. I never saw any other mascotts interacting as much as Kelly/Raymond did. She really brought the energy to the crowd and never had downtime.

Raymond just won't be the same. I'll miss those moves!

[tim]

Maybe it was the stupid cow bell promotion. I hated those things, especially when the obnoxious fans would bang them on my seat.

[Rays fan in Tally]

Usually I find them a distraction, but she made Raymond actually funny, but wasn't obtrusive like so many mascots think they should be the reason people attend the games. Shame the Rays are making this move!

As for the people who are bashing this news being reported...She was part of the organization and if she went out and made children happy then it should be reported and what the heck does it hurt you any..ignore it if you don't like it!

[I Care]

And women care. And unless I can get my wife to go to the games, I can't go nearly as much as I did this past year.

Face it. Despite it's weather advantages, the Trop is a very sterile environment. This decision just made the gameday experience a lot less interesting.

[Who Cares]

Seriously, why are you people outraged? Watch the game and not the mascots.

[TechRider]

Perhaps Raymond is going away. It is about time. Of course, knowing that she was involved with cowbells, I would send her packing just for that.

[Ryan]

Well that's it! I am not renewing my season tickets, and I guess I'll just be a Phillies fan. Just when I want to be on the bandwagon they push me right off with these types of decisions. Why else would I watch a Rays game now?