Denis Desaulniers, Jean-Claude Tremblay, Claude Hubert, Pierre Bélisle and Sylvain Ouellette immediately accepted our invitation. In turn, they told their fascinating story in a five-episode podcast that lifts the veil on this role that marked them for life: Inside Youppi’s head!

Of course Youppi! is an inexhaustible source of funny stories. His shots were tainted and staged on the stands and on the pitch of the Olympic Stadium that became famous.

However, the mission of this mascot, which has become very popular since it was created in 1979, is not just to amuse. Yippee! is also a trustworthy, a character who distributes doses of love without restraint wherever he goes, and also receives tons of it.

How does it feel to receive so many expressions of affection and then to go home alone? And to leave the costume, for good, after so many rounds of teasing and seducing the public?

Together, these five men cover almost all of Youppi! ‘S 26 seasons. in Expos uniform before selling Quebec’s favorite mascot to Canadiens following the Montreal baseball club’s departure to Washington.

In this podcast, Denis, Jean-Claude, Claude, Pierre and Sylvain declare the work to include this stuffed hero who was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting, Indiana. You will discover that Youppi! strongly influenced their careers.

What can they do?

Direk Jacques-Alexis Bernardin and I followed them and we saw them describe to us how Youppi! mess up their lives.

The result of this trip by two baseball fans, who wanted to get to know the members of a select club, was surprising. In other words, our guests threw us some disarming curve balls that will show you Youppi! from another angle, the inside.

To whet your appetite, without being too revealing, I’ll tell you a little bit about our journey to track down and hear from these five men who, anonymously, occupy a place in Expos history.

Episode no. 1: Denis Desaulniers, the original

Our first stop was on the South Shore, near Quebec. The door opened with laughter. Denis Desaulniers shines. He is the impersonator of Youppi! who was first of all, the first to wear the garment. Many of his memories are from more than 40 years ago, but he recounts them in great detail. He was made to laugh a lot by Warren Cromartie and Tim Raines, he was greatly impressed by Ray Burris, and Gary Carter and his children had the ability to seduce him.

Denis Desaulniers has become Youppi! by letter to the post. He imagined himself in the mascot costume that Expos management was about to create. The following is a sequence of events that make him an admired audience leader who, in his attire, practices his trade in front of more than 50,000 spectators during championship races.

Now in his sixties, he is the head of a company he calls Youp Media, which organizes all sorts of events. He admitted to leaving the role of Youppi! very painful. Denis Desaulniers recounted the events of his departure with intense emotion. He considers himself the soul of Youppi! and extremely proud to have been able to incorporate this character who gave him so much affection.

Episode no. 2: Jean-Claude Tremblay, the actor

As soon as we come to the creations Jean-Claude Tremblay, the second Youppi! We are invited to the overflowing vitality accompanied by his son Dominique who wears the Expos cap and who now runs his father’s business. We are in mascot country!

This unemployed art teacher was first hired by Expos to arrange Youppi’s costumes! before succeeding Denis Desaulniers and becoming one of the largest mascot manufacturers in North America.

Jean-Claude Tremblay tells his stories to the amusement of the boy Youppi! made see in all colors. He remembers that game where his father fell under the Expos shelter after the premiere slide forced the game delay. And he listens, laughing his father’s story explains how Youppi! Angry and took his revenge if his comrades at the Caravan Expos dare to play tricks on him …

Then, we were treated to a guided tour of sewing workshops where thousands of mascots have been born over the years and that includes Youppi! proud because she was the first to makeover there.

Episode 3: Claude Hubert, the delinquent

The incredible happened during our visit to Claude Hubert’s workplace. And this is not so surprising because this person is still today the only impersonator who persuades a major league baseball umpire to expel a mascot from a game, that is to say Youppi !, on August 23rd , 1989, at Olympic Stadium, after a conditional swing by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda.

Claude Hubert maintains his innocence today, but remains proud of his reaction to this historic battle, not only for his deportation, but what happened to his life after the meeting. The unexpected seems to stick to the skin of this former daycare educator, firefighter and imitator of more than a hundred mascots, the most famous of course being Youppi!

What happened that day when we joined him in his job as a front desk attendant at a grocery store? You have to believe that the gods of the stadium wanted an unpredictable meeting to happen in Boisbriand …

Episode 4: Pierre Bélisle, the double agent

A double agent whose mission is to infiltrate organized crime in Montreal to handcuff drug traffickers. Admit that the profession makes you the perfect candidate for a position of the mascot at first glance, even the same duties require you to stay in the shadows.

Once again a policeman and patrolman after undressing, Pierre Bélisle got permission from the head of the SPVM to wear Youppi’s costume! Police by day, mascot of Montreal Expos by night. He combined the two functions over the years and he himself was arrested in his masquerade at the Olympic stadium!

Pierre Bélisle is now a French teacher in the United States. He has always been attracted to the world of entertainment. After having risen in the rankings, it is with regret that he gave up hosting Youppi! because his superiors felt that this role could damage his credibility …

Episode 5: Sylvain Ouellette, the great organizer

Sylvain Ouellette never thought to live a moment so sad in the attire of a character so happy. Moderator at Club Med great organizer inherited the role of Youppi! in the latter part of the Expos ’stay in Montreal. She exchanged her shorts on a hot Caribbean day for the sultry Montreal mascot costume who never danced very well and understood Spanish.

And the big day has come. The last battle in the history of our Z’amours at the Olympic Stadium that the move to Washington has been confirmed.

The businessman and animator, who now heads Animation Productions, never opened up about tonight when Youppi! had to spend his time playing the powerful mascot, while spectators and Expos staff sadly asked for one last picture of him. Under the costume, still crying and still not flowing when she remembers this moment.