Raymond Anaya, a Menifee resident, has an alter ego, a furry red, 6'9" tall freak named Bernie, with freckles and rainbow hair.

He's the mascot for the Inland Empire 66ers, San Bernardino's single A baseball team.

The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin published an article about his rags-to-riches story...

He attended a mascot school in Delaware organized by Dave Raymond, the original Philly Phanatic. The famous Chicken - Ted Giannoulas - also took Anaya under his wing in 2001, flying him to Buffalo where he was performing at a Triple-A game. Anaya spent the next three weeks traveling across the country with the mascot, who started his act in 1974.

Read the entire article here...
http://www.dailybulletin.com/sports/ci_6465922

Labels: Baseball