For over two decades, Swoop, the beloved South Bend mascot has been a symbol of joy and community spirit after years of creating memories.

Swoop is retiring My name's Alan, I've been Swoop's long time friend and interpreter for as many years, ever since 2001.

Actually, that summer Swoop says yes, the rumors are true.

Swoop is going to retire.

So when swoop told us at the beginning of the season that he was going to retire, we knew it was coming soon Swoop already cut back on some of the days that he could work on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.

So we knew that the time was coming and once swoop kind of told us that it was his time that we wanted to recognize Swoop for the whole season.

We didn't want to just say, okay, Swoop done after the 23 season, people don't get a chance to say goodbye again because Swoop is such an important part of the community.

So we wanted Swoop, to be celebrated and recognized all season long it is my honor to present to you a key to the city.

Thank you Swoop and really give fans a chance to say thank you, to swoop, say goodbye, to swoop.

And so on August 25th one, the stadium was just packed full of fans.

It was such a great sight to see.

He loves what he does, but his body just can't take it anymore.

Old age, you know, is hard to get up on the dugout he loves everything he's done with the with the South Bend cubs and the South Bend, Silver Hawks.

He loves the fans.

But he's been doing so long, he's just ready to retire and hand over the the torch to Stu.

In 2015, the South Bend, Silver Hawks officially became the South Bend Cubs, ushering in a new era for the team and its loyal fans.

Yeah.

It was probably the number one email I got when we announced that we were going to the South Bend Cubs.

and the number one question was what's going to happen to swoop?

You got to keep swoop around.

And so there was no question that Swoop was going to continue to stick around.

Swoop says he was kind of nervous at first of a transition new team coming in.

are the fans going to still accept a silver Hawk even though we're a Cubs town?

And honestly I think people even more embraced Swoop because they were worried spooked might have retired after, you know, we switched to the Cubs.

as the transition, he's grown to love the Cubs he knew that one day Stu would be the main mascot for the South Bend Cubs and he would have to retire, Swoop took Stu under his wing and kind of showed him the ropes and got him integrated into what we do.

I mean, obviously when you've been here that long, you know your way around for one field and for them to come in and just meshed together.

I mean, you see them walk around, they're like two best friends.

The mascots are just great ambassadors.

They can be they can go anywhere, they can participate in anything, don't have any restrictions.

Whereas when you're developing players, players may not always be able to go to an event or they may be restricted in, you know, maybe they can't necessarily play a baseball game, they may play a little catch, but swoop and go out there to a little league field, jump right at home plate and swing for the fences.

You know, it's it's about bringing that that fun and excitement from the ballpark and bring it into the community.

They are the ambassadors for the organization.

I mean, they're the ones that can create a smile on any kid's face when they're walking around the ballpark.

And, you know, it's even adults that want to take their photos with them.

we probably are asked no more than 2 to 300 times for mascot appearances outside of game days themselves.

Well, Swoop has always been about the community, whether that's when he first got here in 97 to now.

It's always been about how can he help the community, The players don't stay when the season ends.

Players leave, Swoop is always here.

So Swoop is that ambassador for us in the offseason going to children's hospitals, food banks going to some of those areas that folks are a little less fortunate and the little extra help swoop goes out there to spread a little cheer, You look at some of the programs that swoop as Institute of the Reading program.

Just over the last four years, we've had over 100,000 kids participate in reading.

swoop has really done it all, Swoop says it has meant the world to him to be a mascot in his position so long Swoop loves the the fans that come out to support him, he's going to miss the kids, miss all the smiles.

He's seen all kinds of generations of families.

He's seen people in their thirties and forties that grew up with him when they were young.

They're bringing in their kids now to see Swoop, Swoop says it was a great atmosphere that day.

He retired.

the game was good.

stadium was packed.

when he hung up his jersey for the last time, Swoop says he got a little emotional.

He was really sad that the season went so quick and everything happened so fast.

he was waving to the fans he knew was going to be the last time.

So he was he was definitely emotional during that.

So he was he was happy, but sad, kind of bittersweet all at the same time for him.

When swoop on that jersey up for the final time and the cheer that he got as he was leaving the stadium is something that I know he'll he'll remember for the rest of his life.

And it means a lot to him.