Sourdough Sam is touted in these parts as “the hardest working mascot in the NFL.”
He’s also the biggest 49ers fan around — at least in terms of hat size.
A fun-loving gold prospector with a prodigious beard and an appetite for sourdough bread, he’s been pumping up fans since the team’s days at Candlestick Park. Now, with his miners pick high in the air, Sam leads the 49ers on the field at Levi’s Stadium.
It’s a job that requires great conditioning and uber energy. So when not leading cheers, he gets his cardio workouts in and fuels up with good foods. During the offseason, Sam enjoys meeting young fans at 49er youth camps, schools, birthday parties and other events. And he reportedly greets everyone — even Los Angeles Rams supporters — with a wide smile and a powerful fist bump.
In the run-up to the new football season, Sourdough Sam took time from his busy schedule to answer a few penetrating questions in a super-exclusive interview.
Q: We think it’s cool how you get into the games for free and hang out on the field. But what’s the best thing about being a mascot?
A: The best thing about being a mascot is having the power to elevate the crowd’s energy before, during, and after a game. That energy is needed most when the team is running out onto the field and in the fourth quarter of a close game.
Q: Describe yourself in three words.
A: The people’s mascot.
Q: Do you have a favorite dance song?
A: Yeah. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.
Q: What’s your No. 1 go-to move when you want to get the Levi’s Stadium crowd stoked?
A: I would say my classic “GO-NINERS!” signs. They always get the crowd fired up.
Q: You are obviously in fantastic shape. Tell us about your workout regime.
A: I keep in shape with 49ers PREP workouts. 49ers PREP, presented by U.S. Bank, empowers Bay Area youth to lead healthy lifestyles by engaging in physical activity and nurturing the growth of student athletes beyond the playing field. We do a variety of exercises for 60 minutes. At the end we bust out into a dance party. I LOVE to dance!
Q: What makes 49ers fans so special?
A: They are named the Faithful for a reason. Even at away games, you can find a sea of red and gold. Win or lose, our fans always represent.
Q: Who is your fiercest mascot rival? And why?
A: The Seattle Seahawks mascot, Blitz. … DUH!
Q: Give us the inside dish. Are you pals with other mascots? Is there a professional mascot association?
A: We are all great friends. Although we may disagree about which team is the best, we actually get together annually for our NFL Mascot Summit where awards are given out. I won “Stunt of the Year” in 2019 for riding a Big Wheel down a very curvy street in San Francisco.
Q: Wow, that’s impressive … So if you, Lou Seal (Giants), Stomper (A’s) and S.J. Sharkie (Sharks) ever got together over dinner, what do you think you’d discuss?
A: If we got together for dinner that would be EPIC! I’m sure we would discuss who’s going to pay for dinner.
Q: If you held a draft for a mascot dream team, who would be your top picks?
A: No. 1 Lou Seal; No. 2 S.J. Sharkie; No. 3 Swoop (Philadelphia Eagles); No. 4 Benny Da Bull (Chicago Bulls).
Q: You clearly love being the center of attention. But how do you handle all the fame and stay grounded?
A: I have Coach DC, my Mascot Manager, to keep me humble and focused. You can reach out to him for appearances, or even for an item autographed by me. DC always has my back. (For booking information and fun facts, go to sourdough.sam@49ers.com).
Q: If the 49ers ever needed you to play in a pinch, what position would best showcase your skills?
A: I would be the kicker like Robbie Gould! I love kicking, and I’ve got a strong leg to boot. In fact, I’m shocked that I haven’t gotten a call from (49ers general manager) John Lynch yet!
Q: To be honest, your wardrobe — jeans and jersey — is rather limited. Do you ever dream of stepping out in Gucci or Brioni?
A: There’s nothing I love more than getting down in my Levi’s 501 Jeans.
Q: Hirsute men everywhere want to know: How do you keep your beard looking so good?
A: I wash it with shampoo containing gold flakes. Keeps my beard soft and glowing all day.
