The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show: MLB Mascot Mr. Met

This week on the Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin show, Jeff interviews Matt Golden, who has played Mr. Met for more than 10 years. They talk about how to deal with fans at the stadium, how to talk properly to people when you are wearing a giant head, and what it’s like acting as a mascot compared to acting in a Shakespeare play.

“When you had the microphone we had to come up with ways that people couldn’t talk too much on the microphone, where you’d sort of ask them a question and then pull the mic away and they would give you the answers, and then you would speak the answers into the mic and avoid people just shouting things.” - Matt Golden on what they did to avoid any outbursts when talking to people at the stadium.

“Generally in the baseball mascot world, the epitome of mascots is the Phillie Phanatic. It’s a great costume, it’s well designed and the performer is fantastic. Different mascots have different parameters, so The Phanatic can be very antagonistic towards other teams, which is good for a laugh, and he is known for smacking the helmets of the other teams. Mr. Met doesn’t do that. Mr. Met is supportive of his own team, but not antagonistic towards other teams.” - Matt Golden on the difference between mascots.

“You have to know your limits. You are in this costume and you are always on. You have to pace yourself. If you are doing an appearance and you are going to be in the costume for an hour, you better know how to last through that hour. If you are indoors and it is an air conditioned room you are going to sweat a lot, and if it is outdoors on the east coast in the summer time you are going to sweat profusely and you have to keep hydrated and be aware of what your limits are, and work within that.” - Matt Golden on why stamina is an important quality for a mascot.

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The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show: MLB Mascot Mr. Met