Tom Burgoyne, the Phillie Phanatic's best friend, has long guarded the mascot's identity. But a new documentary, Big Phan, directed by Hoag Kepner, convinced Burgoyne to reveal more about his role. Burgoyne, who has been the backup Phanatic for five years and the main man for the past 20, talks about the mascot in the third person, respecting the secrecy of other big-league mascots. He believes that the magic of the Phanatic lies in the belief that the person inside the costume is the Phanatic, not him. Burgoyne's first All-Star Game was in 1996, and he has since become a beloved figure at these events. He shares a memorable story from the 2002 Home Run Derby in Milwaukee, where the Phanatic almost made a play on a slide, but missed it by a second. Burgoyne's dedication to the role and his respect for the secrecy of other mascots make him a true friend to the Phanatic, and a key part of the magic that surrounds the mascot.
