Baldwin (mascot)
Baldwin is the mascot of the Boston College Eagles. He is an anthropomorphized bald eagle.
The nickname "Eagles" goes back to 1920, when Rev. Edward McLaughlin, unhappy at seeing a newspaper cartoon which represented BC as a cat after a track victory, wrote to The Heights, the college newspaper. He wrote:
- "It is important that we adopt a mascot to preside at our pow-wows and triumphant feats.... And why not the Eagle, symbolic of majesty, power, and freedom? Its natural habitat is the high places. Surely the Heights is made to order for such a selection. Proud would the B.C. man feel to see the B.C. Eagle snatching the trophy of victory from old opponents, their tattered banner clutched in his talons as he flies aloft."[1]
The nickname stuck, and originally two eagles, from Texas and New Mexico, were brought to campus as gifts, but with little success: one escaped, and the other broke its beak trying. For the next forty years, the official "mascot" was a stuffed golden eagle which was located in the B.C. athletic offices. However, in 1961, another attempt was made at a live mascot. A 10-month old golden eagle named "Margo" (so named because the team colors are maroon and gold). Margo lived at the Franklin Park Zoo, and was brought to all home games for several years. However, early in the 1966 season, Margo died of a virus. By this time, eagles had become endangered species, and the university then opted to go to a costumed mascot.
In 2000, with the unveiling of the current athletics logos, the mascot officially got its name: Baldwin, a combination of the words "Bald" (as in bald eagle) and "win." It also received a makeover, and has appeared that way ever since. There is also a 9 1/2 foot inflatable mascot named "Baldwin, Jr." which appears at games. Like many modern costumed mascots, Baldwin wears replica team uniforms at events.