In 2026, the Saint Louis Billikens earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.
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While some college basketball fans have heard of Saint Louis player Robbie Avila, best known for wearing his classic sports glasses, many aren’t sure what to think of the school’s mascot. Saint Louis is represented by a light gray and blue Billiken.
Is he a troll? Is he an elf? What exactly does SLU merchandising represent?
Let’s take a closer look at what a Billiken is and the history behind the Saint Louis mascot.
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Why is Saint Louis’ nickname Billikens?
While the exact reason for connecting Saint Louis to a Billiken is unknown, most believe it was related to the school’s 1910 and 1911 football seasons.
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It was mentioned that John Bender, SLU’s football coach, carried the image of a Billiken. Charles McNamara, an SLU law student, made a cartoon that portrayed Coach Bender as a Billiken.
After placing the cartoon in a drugstore window, people saw McNamara’s photo and began calling the football team “Bender’s Billikens.”
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What is a Billiken?
A Billiken was a figure from the early 20th century that symbolized good luck. The design was reproduced in the form of dolls, marshmallow candies, metal benches, hat pins, pickle forks, belt buckles, car hood ornaments, salt and pepper shakers, and more. Florence Pretz, an art teacher and illustrator from Missouri, saw a mysterious figure in a dream and patented her creation in 1908.
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While Pretz patented the Billiken, similar figures also appear in Alaska, Japan and China. “Happy Jack,” an Alaskan ivory carver, created a Billiken inspired by an Inuit god of good luck. In Osaka, Japan, shrines feature a Billiken that symbolizes good luck. The figure was also inspired by a Chinese god of fortune.
According to legend, buying a Billiken brings luck, but getting one as a gift brings even better luck.
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What is the mascot of Saint Louis?
Saint Louis’ mascot is a light gray Billiken who often wears a blue SLU shirt. A Billiken is a folklore creature that symbolizes “things as they should be.”
The symbol was created in 1908 by art teacher Florence Pretz.
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