Man who donned PawSox mascot costume fondly remembers experience

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — As the Pawtucket Red Sox strike out on a new adventure, the future of the team's mascot "Paws" is unclear.

The team's new owners plan to move the team out of McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket and possibly transfer the team to Providence, to be renamed the Rhode Island Red Sox.

"That [Paws] statue represents everything about the Pawtucket Red Sox, and all the lineage all the way back to the 1940s," Matt Aronhalt, one of the first people to wear the Paws costume, said.

Aronhalt took on the job at 16 years old, during the 1999 season. It was his last job before joining the Air Force.

"It was hot, it was heavy," Aronhalt said. "We'd cover the length of the stadium in about an inning, sign autographs, taking photos with the fans."

He said the experience was very unique.

"I think any major Red Sox fan would have killed for the opportunity to be running around the field and to pretty much have their full run at every player," Aronhalt said.

He even modeled for the Paws statue.

"We were asked to dress up for some photos for some model figure that they were coming up with," Aronhalt said. "I frankly thought it was going to be some sort of toy they were going to sell in the Pro Shop."

Aronhalt said he hopes when the PawSox leave McCoy Stadium, the team's history will make the move too.

"The statue probably belongs somewhere down at City Hall, downtown, if they're going to end up breaking the stadium down," Aronhalt said.