There are mascots, and then there are the ZOOperstars.
On Sunday afternoon, the legendary traveling entertainment troupe rolled into Keesler Federal Park for Schooner’s Birthday Bash, turning a Biloxi Shuckers game into one of the wildest and funniest afternoons of the season. Fans who came expecting Double-A baseball were treated to inflatable animals, dance routines, slapstick comedy, and some of the most recognizable mascot characters in sports entertainment.
For nearly three decades, the ZOOperstars have been one of the most popular promotional acts in minor league baseball. Created in Louisville, Kentucky by brothers Dominic and Brennan Latkovski, the group debuted in 1998 and quickly became a sensation thanks to their oversized inflatable costumes and clever animal-themed parodies of sports stars. What started with characters like Harry Canary, Ken Giraffey Jr., Shark McGwire, and Cow Ripken Jr. grew into a touring act featuring more than 40 characters performing at baseball stadiums, hockey arenas, basketball games, and special events across North America. The group even reached the national stage with appearances on America’s Got Talent.
Another longtime fan favorite is Ken Giraffey Jr., the giraffe-inspired tribute to Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. With his towering height and athletic moves, Ken has been a staple of ZOOperstars performances since the group’s earliest days.
Baseball fans also know Cow Ripken Jr., the bovine version of Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. Whether he’s dancing between innings or participating in one of the troupe’s famous skits, Cow Ripken is one of the most recognizable characters in the lineup.
Modern baseball stars are represented as well. Mike Rainbow Trout, a colorful fish inspired by Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout, has become one of the group’s newer headliners and regularly appears in the famous “Eat It” skit that has generated millions of online views.
The roster doesn’t stop there. Over the years fans have met characters such as Bear Bonds, Derek Cheetah, Elephant Presley, LeBronco James, Yao Flamingo, Sealrena Williams, Tommy Laswordfish, Bobby Orrangutang, and Alex Frogriguez. Every character combines sports, pop culture, and animal puns into a unique brand of comedy that appeals to both children and adults.
One reason the act has remained so popular is that the ZOOperstars aren’t simply mascots. Their performances blend comedy, acrobatics, synchronized dance routines, crowd interaction, and elaborate on-field skits. The result is a show that often becomes just as memorable as the game itself. Minor league teams throughout the country continue to bring them back because fans never seem to tire of the chaos.
For Biloxi fans, Sunday’s appearance added another memorable chapter to the birthday celebration of Schooner, the beloved seagull mascot of the Biloxi Shuckers. As Schooner celebrated another year entertaining Gulf Coast baseball fans, he was joined by some of the biggest stars in mascot entertainment. The combination of a packed ballpark, a birthday party atmosphere, and the ZOOperstars’ signature antics created exactly the kind of family-friendly experience that has made Biloxi baseball one of the Gulf Coast’s premier summer attractions.
Nearly 30 years after their debut, the ZOOperstars continue proving why they remain the gold standard in mascot entertainment. Whether it’s Harry Canary dancing on the dugout, Ken Giraffey Jr. towering over the crowd, or Mike Rainbow Trout stealing the spotlight, the ZOOperstars still know how to bring the fun wherever they go.
And for one Sunday afternoon in Biloxi, Schooner’s birthday party became their latest stage.
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