The unofficial mascot of the Brewers, Hank the dog, seen here on his visit to the Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, June 1, 2014. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Hank the Dog, a stray who showed up at the Milwaukee Brewers’ spring training facility a decade ago and quickly became the team’s unofficial mascot, has reportedly died.
Social media posts Wednesday point to a Facebook post announcing Hank’s death. It reads, in part:
Today we had to say goodbye to a phenomenal dog: Hank the Ballpark Pup.
Many outside of Wisconsin do not know who he is, but every Brewers fan and Wisconsinite that has been paying attention — do. He was OUR little celebrity — and he NEVER failed to bring it and represent.
He was/is my favorite Brewer and he will be truly missed!
In February 2014, the stray pooch wandered onto the Brewers’ Arizona complex looking roughed up. He was taken to a veterinarian, who spotted a tail injury and some gray markings around his right hind leg — a sign that it may have been run over by a vehicle. The vet believed the dog to be around two years old.
The Brewers took the dog in and named him “Hank” after baseball legend Hank Aaron, who began his career in Milwaukee.
When the team could not find Hank’s previous owner, he was adopted by Marti Wronski and her family. Wronski, a Neenah native and 1994 graduate of St. Norbert College, served as the Brewers’ vice president and general counsel at the time. She is now the organization’s chief operating officer.
Hank’s story is one of rags to riches. He became a canine sensation, with the Brewers selling Hank-themed clothes and a stuffed toy version of the dog at their team store. The Brewers also gave away Hank bobblehead dolls at a game.
With his celebrity status, Hank also helped raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Wisconsin Humane Society. He even paid a visit to Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.
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