Contest Time!

Alright, it's contest time. Tonight's prize is a Duke Snider bobblehead, courtesy of Bobbles Galore, the world's largest SGA bobblehead reseller. 

Remember, you must be a follower of dodgerbobble.com and you've got to answer tonight's question correctly in the comments section of the THIS post. For all contest rules, click here.


OK, here's tonight's question:

Duke Snider was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980. That same year, three other people entered with Duke. First dodgerbobble.com follower to name ONE of the other three 1980 baseball Hall of Fame inductees, wins the Duke Snider bobblehead.

LA Times' Bill Shaikin Ranks Local Bobbleheads

Alright, we're about one month into the baseball season, and now it's time start thinking about the upcoming bobbleheads. The first Dodger bobblehead giveaway, Clayton Kershaw, is now three weeks away. I'm starting to get excited. There's nothing better than going to Dodger Stadium and picking up another bobblehead for the collection.

With that in mind, Bill Shaikin of LATimes.com ranked some of the upcoming bobbleheads being given away by local baseball teams. Clayton Kershaw's Dodger Stadium giveaway is ranked fourth on the list of 18 bobbleheads. Fernando Valenzuela's Dodger Stadium giveaway is ranked numero uno. Here's Shaikin's list:

For your collecting and/or reading pleasure, Bill Shaikin ranks an entirely subjective list of local bobblehead giveaways, ranked from most coveted to least coveted:

1. FERNANDOMANIA (Dodgers, July 26) He's Fernando. This is L.A. Plus, he actually did bob his head during his delivery.


2. DUKE SNIDER (Dodgers, Aug. 9) Contemporary tribute to Dodgers' Hall of Famer, who died in February.


3. FELIX HERNANDEZ (Inland Empire 66ers, Aug. 20) Cy Young winner pitched for the 66ers in 2004.


4. CLAYTON KERSHAW (Dodgers, May 17) Bobblehead first; the Cy Young will follow soon enough.


5. CLAYTON KERSHAW (Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, May 20) Same bobblehead, but $12 for best seat in house.


6. KENDRYS MORALES (Angels, May 24) Half the bobbleheads have Morales hitting right-handed, half left-handed.


7. KENDRYS MORALES (Inland Empire 66ers, May 28) Same bobbleheads, but $10 for best seat in house.


8. ANDRE ETHIER (Dodgers, July 7) Attendance on his bobblehead night last year: 55,662 — vs. Astros, on Tuesday.


9. ANGELS GNOME (Angels, Aug. 18) Angels currently running contest to "Gname the Gnome."


10. ANGELS GNOME (Inland Empire 66ers, Sept. 4) Angels say they brought back gnome "by popular demand."


11. AEROSPACE APPRECIATION (Lancaster Jethawks, Aug. 13) Tip o' the astronaut helmet to this cool idea.

12. DON MATTINGLY (Dodgers, June 1) Would rank higher if he were hitting, not standing atop the dugout steps.


13. DAN HAREN (Angels, June 28) At this rate, he could be a 15-game winner by then.


14. DAN HAREN (Inland Empire 66ers, July 9) Buy a $5 lawn seat, sell the bobblehead for more on EBay.
15. HONG-CHIH KUO (Dodgers, June 14) Dodgers hope he'll be off the disabled list by then.


16. WOOLY BULLY (High Desert Mavericks, July 16) That's the team mascot, a bull swinging a bat. No bull.


17. ADRIAN BELTRE (Inland Empire 66ers, June 11) Beltre played for the San Bernardino Stampede at age 17.


18. BUD BLACK (Padres, May 7) Padres' manager has as many home runs as his second baseman, shortstop and right fielder combined — zero.
 
Great list. I think Fernando will always be popular here in SoCal, but this is his THIRD Dodger bobblehead. I covet the Duke Snider and Kershaw a little bit more. So, Did Shaikin get this list right? Thoughts?

Dodgers Honor Duke Snider With Bobblehead

We now know who will get that sixth and final Dodger bobblehead on Tuesday, August 9; the late Duke Snider. The Dodgers will also wear a No.4 patch throughout the entire 2011 season in memory of the Hall of Famer.

From Dodgers.com

The Dodgers announced Wednesday that they will wear a patch in memory of Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider throughout the 2011 season and will host a celebration of his life on Aug. 9 at Dodger Stadium. The memorial patch will feature Snider's No. 4 and will be worn on the Dodgers' home, road and alternate Brooklyn uniforms at every 2011 game beginning Thursday night, when the team opens the season against the San Francisco Giants. Snider's uniform number was retired on July 6, 1980, and is one of 10 retired numbers in franchise history. Snider passed away Feb. 27 at the age of 84.

Snider's family will be among the participants in the Aug. 9 celebration of Snider's life prior to a home game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The special ceremony also will feature a Snider bobblehead giveaway to the first 50,000 fans in attendance that will honor the franchise's all-time-leading home run hitter.

The man they called the "Duke" was born Edwin Donald Snider in Los Angeles on Sept. 19, 1926, and became one of the game's most feared hitters during his 16 seasons with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers (1947-62), playing on a pair of World Series championship teams (1955 and '59) and in six World Series overall.

Snider was an eight-time All-Star center fielder and ranks as the franchise's all-time leader in home runs (389) and runs batted in (1,271). During the 1950s, he topped all Major Leaguers with 326 homers and 1,031 RBIs. He slugged four home runs in both the 1952 and '55 World Series.

The last time the Dodgers wore a memorial patch was in 2000 in memory of Snider's teammate and fellow Hall of Famer, Pee Wee Reese. Other memorial patches were worn by the Dodgers in tribute to Jim Gilliam (1978), coach Don McMahon (1987), Tim Crews (1993) and a combination patch for Hall of Famers Don Drysdale and Roy Campanella, who passed away within a week of one another in 1993.

I think this is a classy move by the Dodgers. I honestly didn't think they would do something like this. It's a bit shocking. I really thought they would go with Chad Billingsley or Davey Lopes for the final bobblehead. Good for them.

Rest In Peace Duke Snider

Hall of Famer and Dodger legend Duke Snider passed away this morning. He was 84.

From Dodgers.com:

Dodger Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider passed away this morning at the age of 84 at the Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital in Escondido, Calif.

Born Edwin Donald Snider in Los Angeles, CA on Sept. 19, 1926, Snider was among the game's most feared hitters during his 16 seasons with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers (1947-1962), playing on a pair of World Championship teams (1955 and 1959) and in six World Series overall.

The seven-time All-Star center fielder ranks as the franchise's all-time leader in home runs (389) and runs batted in (1,271) and during the 1950s, he topped all Major Leaguers with 326 homers and 1,031 RBI. He slugged four home runs in both the 1952 and 1955 World Series.

Nicknamed "Duke" by his father at age five, he was a standout in football, baseball and basketball at Compton High School before signing with the Dodgers at age 17 in 1943. He briefly played in the low minors before entering the Navy.

He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980 and his Dodger uniform No. 4 was retired that year in Oldtimers Day ceremonies that featured Snider entering the ballpark from beyond the center field fence, accompanied by Joe DiMaggio and Willie Mays, two other great outfielders of Snider's time.

Following his playing career, Snider returned to the Dodger organization as a minor league manager. He later joined the Montreal Expos as a broadcaster and batting coach.

Dodger Owner and Chairman Frank McCourt: "Duke was one of the truly legendary Dodgers who made his mark first in Brooklyn and then in his hometown, Los Angeles. I had the pleasure of spending time with him on several occasions and he was a truly wonderful man. I'm so glad that we were able to keep him as an active part of the Dodger family over the past several years. The entire Dodger organization is deeply saddened by his loss and our heartfelt thoughts are with Beverly and his family."

Dodger Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda: "I was a Duke's teammate and looked up to him with respect. Duke was not only a great player but he was a great person too. He loved his family and loved the Dodgers. He was the true Dodger and represented the Dodgers to the highest degree of class, dignity and character. He was my teammate and friend and I will really miss him."

Dodger Hall of Fame broadcast Vin Scully: "He was an extremely gifted talent and his defensive abilities were often overlooked because of playing in a small ballpark, Ebbets Field. When he had a chance to run and move defensively, he had the grace and the abilities of DiMaggio and Mays and of course, he was a World Series hero that will forever be remembered in the borough of Brooklyn. Although it's ironic to say it, we have lost a giant. He's joining a great Dodger team that has moved on and I extend my sympathies to his entire family, especially to Bev."

It's a sad day in Dodgertown. The Duke will be missed.