Beneath the Bleachers

If it's game 5 in the Texas League Championship, who do you go to? Your Ace, of course. But like all heroes, they can't win alone. Every hero needs a sidekick, even if he's hidden beneath the bleachers.

Beneath the Bleachers
As an Arkansan, you might see a possum and not think twice about it because it's apart of the nature you see everyday. But what if it's 5 foot tall and dancing around a minor league baseball stadium?
In 2007, the Arkansas Travelers transitioned from Little Rock's Ray Winder Field to North Little Rock's Dickey-Stephens Park.
The process of rebranding the team came when new general manager Paul Allen Jr. took over in 2013. The Team decided it was time for the Travelers to invent a new face. Shelly, a horse and former Travelers mascot, announced her retirement from the team in 2013. The staff wished her best and began their process of finding a new mascot.
Ace, the horse, stands at 7 foot tall, and is now the primary mascot of this Texas league team. But every Batman needs a Robin and every Ace needs an Otey.
Otey, the possum, is considered the sidekick mascot and good luck charm of this organization. Legend has it that he is responsible for the Arkansas Travelers' 2008 Texas League Championship. The Travelers finished the regular season with the lowest win total ever, 62- 78, until Otey's superstitions helped turn the season around and win it all.
Before his time at Dickey Stephens Park, Otey grew up just like any other baby possums. Raised by his possum family in Southeast Arkansas, Otey grew up watching the Travelers at Little Rock's Ray Winder Field and was actually named after former Arkansas Traveler R.C. Otey.
The idea for Otey came from multiple possum stories the Traveler's staff had from working throughout the years.
"After games, possums would always come out from under the bleachers. We would always go down there and chase them around with flashlights to get them out of there," said Allen.
The Travelers organization was very hesitant about having a possum represent their brand. The thought of Arkansans taking offense of this mascot and scaring children ran threw the minds of people in charge of this project.
Taking a lot of time and patience in creating these new mascots, The Travs wanted only the best for the franchise. The Travelers commissioned Custom Characters out of California, the same company that builds Disney characters, to help create a realistic touch to their new mascots.
When the reveal of Ace and Otey arrived, critics were outraged that a possum would be representing the team they loved. But as time passed, the season started and children were actually more drawn to the look of Otey than Ace. Ace could potentially frighten a few children because of his height, as where Otey is closer to the ground with a softer look.
If it's game 5 in the Texas League Championship, who do you go to? Your Ace, of course. But like all heroes, they can't win alone. Every hero needs a sidekick, even if he's hidden beneath the bleachers.