Houston’s Hall of Fame Mascots

National Mascot Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate one thing Houston does better than anyone else: mascots.

Houston is home to four Mascot Hall of Fame members, including a distinction no other city can claim. Houston is the only city in America with three professional sports mascots in the Mascot Hall of Fame.

Leading the way is Clutch, the beloved bear of the Houston Rockets. Since his induction in 2006, Clutch has become one of the most recognizable mascots in sports, famous for his wild stunts and game-night antics.

Then there’s Orbit, the Astros’ green alien from Space City. Orbit has been entertaining fans since 1990 and earned his place in the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2024 after becoming one of baseball’s most popular mascots.

And TORO completed Houston’s professional mascot trifecta last year. The Texans’ high-flying blue bull joined the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2025, making Houston the only city with Hall of Fame mascots representing the NFL, MLB, and NBA.

But Houston’s mascot greatness doesn’t stop with the pros.

The University of Houston’s Shasta joined the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2022, giving the city a fourth Hall of Fame mascot and proving Cougar pride belongs right alongside Houston’s major league teams.

Think about that for a second. Four Hall of Fame mascots. One city.

From Clutch City to Space City to Cougar Country, Houston’s mascots have become part of the city’s identity. They fire up crowds, represent their teams in the community, and create memories for generations of fans.

So this National Mascot Day, give a tip of the cap to Clutch, Orbit, TORO, and Shasta. Going to any game in Houston wouldn’t be the same withouth them!

Happy National Mascot Day!

Doug O’Brien