End of an era: Swoop heads back to the nest, retiring as South Bend Cubs mascot
SOUTH BEND — It's the end of an era in South Bend.
Swoop, the flamboyant mascot from the South Bend minor league baseball franchise, announced Thursday during a mock press conference on the South Bend Cubs' Facebook page that he is retiring at the end of the 2024 season. His final day will be Aug. 25.
Swoop spent 28 seasons in South Bend, first as the primary mascot from 1997-2015 when the team was and Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate named the Silver Hawks, a homage to Studebaker and the city's car making past.
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When the team aligned with the Chicago Cubs in 2014 and changed to its current name, Swoop stayed on as a subordinate of the new mascot, Stu.
“The team has always been incredibly supportive and wanted me to continue as long as I wanted to,” Swoop said through interpreter Alan Rubin. “I’ve always considered myself to be a good teammate. Whether that was working with Covey Junior and the Hawk Squad in the early 2000s or more recently with Stu and the Blue Crew. I’ve always tried to do what was best for my team and give 110%.”
Swoop’s "old age" has limited him to select games in recent years.
“It’s been tough the last few years not being at every game,” Swoop said. “I want to be at my best when I’m in the stadium and out in the community. It takes a lot more out of me to jump on the dugouts or be on my feet for six plus hours. I only want to perform at my best and go out on top.”
Swoop added, "And at my old age, I don’t want to be a bird-en, but I have no egrets!”
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Special Swoop bobbleheads will be given away for his final game. Clark the Cub, the Chicago Cubs' Major League mascot, will be at the game.
Swoop and Stu had a long hug at the end as an icon made one of the hardest choices a mascot can make.
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“I’m incredibly grateful to have done this as long as I have … this is a special group and a wonderful organization,” Swoop said. “I’m forever grateful to be a part of this franchise and do this as long as I have.”
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: After 28 years, Swoop to retire as South Bend Cubs mascot
