An Otto Biography Just What Is A ‘Spokaneasaurus’? We Wanted The Real Story Behind The Indians’ Mascot And Came Away With A Monster Of A Tale

He’s part Barney the Dinosaur and part Philly Fanatic. He’s Otto, a mascot who loves to shake his tail to “Wild Thing.”

Otto sports the number 00 on his XXXXL-size jersey, he has his own trading card and he’s even been thrown out of games for flipping the umpire some attitude.

But if you’re a Spokane Indians fan, you already know that.

What you might not realize is that today, Otto - the “world’s only Spokaneasaurus” - turns 5. To celebrate, mascots from all over the region, including Butch, the Wazzu coug, and the Eastern Eagle, will gather at the ballpark to blow out candles on his monster cake.

That doesn’t mean Otto will slack off, though. He’ll be busy doing his usual gig - visiting with the fans, aiming his huge slingshot toward the crowd and sending candy bars and hot dogs sailing, and signing “Otto”graphs.

Like most mascots, Otto doesn’t speak. It’s not that he’s aloof. It’s just that his felt face is frozen in a permanent smile.

We’ve read the stats on his trading card. We learned stuff like Otto’s favorite movie is “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” though that might change because he’s seen this summer’s dino-flick “Lost World” a bunch of times already.

But we wanted the lowdown on everyone’s favorite Spokane Indian. So, we asked the Indians’ front office guys who dreamed up this creature - his alter egos, really - to flesh out Otto’s character, to tell us what makes this Spokaneasaurus tick?

Otto Klein and Andrew Billig, the team’s president, wanted the Indian’s mascot to be more an ambassador than an entertainer like the Mariner Moose.

“He’s always out shaking people’s hands and he loves to pose for pictures with the fans. He’s such a ham. He loves attention,” said Klein, the team’s executive director of sponsorships.

The mascot - played for the past five years by professional actor Mike Hynes - made his debut on opening day in 1993. When he was dropped off on the field by a helicopter, the Spokaneasaurus hadn’t yet been named. Fans voted with their applause for his now-famous moniker, but what they didn’t know was that including Otto in the name contest was a bit of a prank.

“It was between Dinger, Snooter and Grounder and at the last minute, we told the announcer to include Otto,” Billig said. “We didn’t think anyone would pick it.”

When it came down to a dead heat between Otto and Snooter, the crowd started chanting “Otto, Otto.”

Otto makes his entrance through the home dugout every game in the second inning while the PA system blares “Wild Thing.” You know, he makes everything groovy.

The announcer routinely gives Otto a big build-up, introducing him as the mascot who has hit more home runs than Ken Griffey Jr., who was the champion at last year’s Hoopfest and who has a closet full of Olympic gold medals.

“But he’s surprisingly humble. He’s bashful, really,” Klein said.

“When he reads this article, he’s probably going to turn bright red.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean Otto lacks confidence. When other mascots - including the Famous Chicken - make regular appearances at Indians’ games throughout the season, they don’t threaten Otto.

“He doesn’t need to be jealous because he knows he’s the best,” Billig said. “Every year, he beats the Famous Chicken in the dance contest.”

Nothing like the home-field advantage.

When Otto’s not dancing or trying to fluster the opposing team, he’s out shaking hands like a politician.

So, does Otto dream of one day running for mayor of Spokane? “Otto’s above politics,” Billig deadpanned. “You would never see him running for vice president like the Mariner Moose.”

He’s not above helping out the team in any way possible, though.

That first season he was with the club, Otto shed his skin so ejected manager Tim Flannery could get back in the game.

“Flannery was intense and he was thrown out early, but we asked if he wanted to go back out in the eighth inning wearing Otto’s suit and he did,” Billig said. “We told him he had to go out there and dance or the umpires might catch on and he would face a big fine and suspension.”

Flannery, so the story goes, intoxicated the crowd with his moves to “Tequila,” but almost gave himself away when he started yelling at the players in the field. The Indians came from behind to win that game.

“We didn’t talk about it for the longest time because we didn’t want anyone to get in trouble, but it came out later in Sports Illustrated,” Klein said.

On days when he doesn’t have to put his game face on, Otto makes all sorts of public appearances at everything from company picnics to parades to grade school assemblies. One year, Otto ran Bloomsday.

Despite his relentless cheerfulness and outgoing nature, Otto does have at least one guilty pleasure. He’s a junk-food junkie.

“He always eats at the kids’ concession stand,” Billig said. “He loves ice cream and Hershey’s bars and Reese’s Pieces, any kind of candy.”

Klein said, “You might think he’s fat, but that’s just the way a Spokaneasaurus looks.”

His only other fault is that he can’t ever seem to win the run-the-bases race against kids.

“He always trips and falls, but usually he’s a good loser,” Klein said.

So, does Otto have aspirations like the rest of the young Indian team to go to “the show,” to move up to the big leagues?

“Of course, he’s happy to see the players go on, but he wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else,” Klein said. “Spokane is his home.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Tonight’s game The Spokane Indians play the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at 7:05 tonight at Seafirst Stadium. Tickets are $6 and $3.50 for adults, and $6 and $2.50 for children age 12 and younger, seniors and military personnel, available at the stadium, G&B Select-A-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.