Bobblehead News: California League

With my Dodgers giving away the final bobblehead of the year last week, and the Angels doing the same this week, it's time to look to the local minor league teams for bobbleheads. Here's a little bobblehead news from the California league.

Felix Hernandez bobblehead pushed back. The Inland Empire 66ers have pushed back the Felix Hernandez bobblehead giveaway, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, August 20. The team has replaced the bobbleheads with Anaheim Angels newsboy hats. A date for the Hernandez bobblehead hasn't been determined yet. For questions regarding the promotion change, call Kevin Shaw at (909)495-7623. Thanks to Eddie for the tip.

Ken Griffey Sr. gets bobblehead. The Bakersfield Blaze, Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, will be giving away bobbleheads of their manager, Ken Griffey Sr. The first 500 fans attending the game on Friday, August 19 will receive the bobblehead of the former Reds great. 

Rawhide honor 65 years of baseball in Visalia, and Kirby Puckett too.  The Visalia Rawhide, Single-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, are celebrating 65 years of baseball by giving away four different bobbleheads of their mascot, Tipper the cow. Each bobblehead has Tipper wearing clothing from different eras, starting with the 50's themed Tipper, which was given away on July 31, 60's Tipper on August 7, 70's Tipper on August 14 and the final 1980's Tipper which will be given away on August 28.


And, on August 24, the team will be honoring Kirby Puckett with a bobblehead as well. Puckett, the city's most famous former player, played for the Visalia Oaks in 1983. This bobblehead will be given to the first 500 fans in attendance.

Apollo 13 astronaut honored last Saturday. Fred Haise, one of the the astronauts from the Apollo 13 mission, was honored on Saturday, August 13 by the Lancaster JetHawks with a bobblehead. The bobble, which depicts Haise coming out of the Apollo 13 capsule, was given to the first 1,200 fans in attendance as part of the Aerospace Appreciation Weekend.