The Whale, curiously nicknamed “Fish”, is the iconic traditional mascot of Santos. In every match that the club from Baixada Santista faces at the Estádio da Vila Belmiro, the Whale is present, captivating the eyes and hearts of the fans. But have you ever wondered how this unique mascot choice came about? Or what is the secret behind the Whale becoming such a beloved symbol of Santos? Get ready, as the piece that BRG365! is about to present will answer all these questions and much more, revealing the hidden mysteries of the history of this unique mascot.
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See the history of the Santos mascot
According to information released on the club's official website, the nickname "Fish" has a special origin. Initially, as the Santos team was born in Baixada Santista, rival fans conferred this nickname with a certain tone of devaluation. Flashing back to the year 1921, the newspaper "Ítalo Brasileiro" published a caricature, in which a representative of the Italia Palestra team (which is now Palmeiras) was curiously looking at a fish symbolizing Santos.
This was how Santos had its first association with the nickname "Fish". Then, in 1933, the caricaturist João Brito also depicted the team as a "fish" in the newspaper "O Esporte", which further contributed to the dissemination of this nickname.
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The Whale: The Iconic Official Mascot of Santos
In 1943, the renowned caricaturist João Brito suggested that Santos adopt a sailor as its mascot. However, this proposal did not win the fans' hearts, who did not show much sympathy for the idea. Soon the following year, in 1944, the talented plastic artist Nino Borges came into the picture. He created spectacular illustrations portraying a whale as the symbol of Santos, an idea that soon proved to be a true success, captivating the fans.
An interesting anecdote is that, previously, the "fish", which had been associated with the club, was considered a relatively weak animal. In contrast, the whale emerged as the obvious choice, being an imposing and robust marine creature, perfectly aligned with the image of strength and victory that Santos aimed to project. This mascot change not only revitalized the club's visual identity but also strengthened the emotional connection between the team and its passionate fans.
