By Joe Frisaro
Billy the Marlin certainly did his part practicing social distancing during the 2020 MLB season. Not only did the Marlins’ popular, long-beaked mascot stay clear of those around him during games, he also helped raise awareness for the hearing impaired.
Fans who watched the Marlins closely may have noticed that Billy the Marlin sported a mask that was specially designed to have a clear, see-through plastic covering over his mouth.
The idea was developed by Brian Travers, a local “accessory designer” from Coconut Creek, Fla. The 53-year-old was born with a genetic hearing defect, which inspired him to make a mask to assist lip-readers.
“Billy’s mask was the biggest design to date,” Travers said in an e-mail interview with MLB.com. “It is made out of jersey material, the same material used to make the players jerseys. The clear see through window is made of plastic.”
Once MLB set its start date for the 2020 season in late July, the Marlins approached Travers about making a specially designed mask for Billy the Marlin.
The Marlins mascot wears a see through face mask to raise awareness of hearing loss. Photo credit: MLB.com.
Mindful of the impact during the coronavirus pandemic, the Marlins wanted to come up with an idea for Billy that was inclusive. The club didn’t want to sport just a standard mask, and the custom-made one Travers designed helps raise awareness for the hearing impaired.
“Being approached by the Miami Marlins immediately brought my father to mind,” Travers said. “He was a Little League baseball coach and loved MLB. He is no longer with us.”
Travers’ hearing condition has improved thanks to a surgical procedure. Above his right ear, Travers has a cochlear implant.
Cochlear implants are designed to help you hear better and improve speech understanding in everyday situations, including noisy environments.
“My father my hero,” Travers said. “The smile never left my face making the mask for Billy the Marlin. I could not stop thinking of my father, wishing he could sit beside me watching it being made.”
Travers receives requests to design special masks from all over the world. But to date, Billy the Marlin is his only mascot client.
“The biggest message I hope to spread is unity, the importance of working together,” Travers said. “Being on a team is not limited to a professional organization. It’s within all us on a daily basis in everything we do. We all need to understand that the simple act of wearing a mask prevents disease transmission. Imagine how things would be if we all worked together.
“With all of us wearing masks, the other thing we may take for granted is a person’s smile. With all of us wearing masks, I believe the see-through window will allow everyone’s smile to be seen along with other facial expressions. This would benefit all of us.”
This MLB.com story was re-published with permission. Joe Frisaro has covered the Marlins for MLB.com since 2002.
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I wanted to create a story that not only celebrated the beauty of differences but also conveyed the importance of empathy and understanding. My heart was set on crafting a tale that could empower children with hearing loss while also educating their peers about the significance of inclusivity.