Hank the Dog joins laundry list of famous MLB animals

On Friday, the Milwaukee Brewers will hold a press conference to hopefully diffuse the biggest controversy of spring training thus far: rumors have spread throughout the Cactus League that the club's beloved, unofficial mascot - Hank the Dog - died at some point over the offseason and has been replaced by a lookalike.

A team spokesman categorically denied the rumor Thursday, and insisted the club will show everyone "that Hank is, indeed, Hank." But even if this case of mistaken identity is tidily resolved, the controversy has already ensured Hank will forever remain one of the most recognized pooches in baseball history.

Without further ado, then, let's take a peek at some of the other animals that have left an indelible mark on America's pastime:

Chicago's infamous Billy Goat

There hasn't been a World Series game on the north side of Chicago since World War II ended, and superstitious types have attributed the Cubs' oft-discussed championship drought to a goat by the name of Murphy and his disgruntled owner. As legend has it, when local tavern owner Billy Sianis and his beloved pet, Murphy, were asked to leave Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the 1945 World Series because the animal's stench was bothering other spectators, the aggrieved patron put a curse on the Cubs. "Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more," Sianis allegedly said, and, so far, he hasn't been wrong.

The bird that met the Big Unit

In Greek mythoIogy, Icarus met his demise by flying too close to the sun on wings made of wax (or pastrami, depending on your source). Fifteen years ago, an unlucky bird met its demise by flying too close to a Randy Johnson fastball. Despite battling some control problems throughout the early stages of his Hall-of-Fame career, the intimidating left-hander showed off some pinpoint (albeit fatal) command during that spring training game back on March 24, 2001, resulting in the most famed incident of aviancide in baseball history.

Yoenis Cespedes' ill-fated hog

Before he even took his first stateside swings, it was clear Cespedes had a soft spot for the magical animal behind ham, bacon, and sausage: in his now-infamous recruiting video, the outfielder is shown spit-roasting an entire pig. Cespedes' fondness for swine reached new heights Sunday night, however, when he paid $7,000 at auction for a 270-pound ground champion hog at the St. Lucie County Fair. But while Cespedes insisted he had no plans to have his new pet killed, the New York Mets confirmed in a statement Wednesday that the pig had been sent to the slaughterhouse (according to a team spokesman, Florida state law dictates that any hog purchased at auction must be slaughtered). The fate of Cespedes' prize hog generated plenty of controversy, too, as PETA condemned the 30-year-old for "dropp(ing) the ball" and implored him to "open his heart, not clog it with pig fat."