Paw is the official Mascot for the Detroit Tigers. It was on May 5, 1995, when Paws made his debut as the Tigers’ mascot.
Before coming to Comerica Park, he was entertaining Tigers fans at Tiger Stadium. Apart from attending Tigers games and joining in the chants, Paws also makes appearances at schools, malls, and other community activities in the surrounding Detroit region.
Previously, Paws’ jersey would feature the current season’s two-digit acronym on it. Paws’ number was originally 11, but it was changed to 00 in 2011 and 2016, in honor of the Tigers’ late players Sparky Anderson and Hal Newhouser. If it’s Christmas in July or Elvis Night at Comerica Park, you could see him in a Santa Claus suit or an Elvis Presley getup.
Kyle Liechty, a Horton resident, is the newest Paws, performer. To considerable fanfare, he took up the post in 2010. After all, he had already performed as Western Michigan University’s mascot, Buster Bronco, in the past.
Wearing a mascot costume means you have to stay active all the time. The performers’ bodies suffer a beating because of this, and despite appearances, they must be in top physical condition. Working as a Detroit Tigers mascot earns an hourly wage of around $50. We think that the same rate applies to guest appearances outside of the studio. Earning that much money is a real treat.
