The Los Angeles Angels “unofficial” mascot, the Rally Monkey, is an elusive creature that only appears on the scoreboard or in videos at the stadium when the Angels are tied or trailing at the sixth inning. He was “born” on June 6, 2000, in the bottom of the 9th inning of an Angels game against the San Francisco Giants. The Angels were down 5 to 4. Two enterprising guys running the video board (Jaysen Humes and Dean Fraulino) put up a video of a monkey jumping up and down from a Jim Carrey movie. Then they superimposed the words “RALLY MONKEY” over the video. When the Angels went on to score two runs and win the game Rally Monkey became a favorite. But, he only appears when the Angels are in danger of losing a game!
Although there are Rally Monkey dolls, there is no one dressed up in a monkey costume to entertain Angels fans. Nevertheless, the Rally Monkey is now an Angels institution and national phenomena, especially after the 2002 World Series against the Giants (again). The Angels were down 5 to zero in the bottom of the seventh inning and facing elimination by the Giants who led 3 games to 2. Again the Rally Monkey excited the crowd, ignited a rally, and the Angels scored six unanswered runs to win the game, and win the World Series in game 7.
Angels fans can now purchase a plush Rally Monkey which they bring to games to cheer on the team and assist in rallies as needed.
The Los Angeles Angels were owned by Gene Autry who never saw them win a World Series in more than 30 years of ownership. It was only after the passing of the “singing cowboy” that the Rally Monkey helps bring a World Series win to the Angels.