Bobblehead Of The Day: Ken Griffey Sr.

Thirty-five years ago this week, the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series, sweeping the New York Yankees. The "Big Red Machine" won their second consecutive Fall Classic, and one of the biggest bats on that team was Ken Griffey Sr. who batted .336 that season.


Today the senior Griffey is manager of the Bakersfield Blaze, single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. On Friday, August 19, the team honored their manager with a bobblehead. The first 500 fans in attendance received the nodder as the Blaze took on the Lake Elsinore Storm that night and won, 6-4.


So, let's take a look at the bobble:

The smooth black helmet is perfect for an auto.

It's simple, but nice.


The great thing about living in Southern California is that there are a lot of baseball options out here. Besides the Dodgers and Angels, there's a handful of minor league teams that play in the California League, which always means more bobblehead giveaways. Thanks to the Bakersfield Blaze and Dan Besbris for the getting this bobblehead to me, I really appreciate it! I can't wait to make it out to a Blaze game next year.

Bobblehead Of The Day: Tommy Lasorda (2001)

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Dodgerbobble.com has come down to the last Dodger Stadium bobblehead, 2001's Tommy Lasorda. It's funny how this is the last one to get posted, but it was the very first one given away. Of course, the Dodgers will give more bobbleheads away in the years to come, and I'll post those as they are released.

This is the bobblehead that started it all. The one that began Dodger fan's collections. On April 4, 2001, the Dodgers gave away Manager Tommy Lasorda bobbleheads. Made by BD&A Promotions, this bobble was given to every fan in attendance. The game wasn't the sellout we regularly see on bobblehead nights now though. The official attendance of that game was 34,301. The Dodgers lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks that night 7-2.  Darren Dreifort was the starting pitcher for the Dodgers, Curt Schilling for the DBacks. This was the first of three bobbleheads given away in 2001. Kirk Gibson was the second(June 9) and Fernando Valenzuela was the third(July 29).

Here's Tommy:

I like this pudgy, big-headed version of Tommy. It may not look exactly like him, but it's close enough. The features of the SGA's got better once the Dodgers switched manufacturers from BD&A to P2. This is the very first Dodger Stadium  bobblehead given away, so I do have a soft spot in my heart for it. 

For the complete list of Dodger Stadium bobblehead giveaways with dates and links, check the blog sidebar.

Bobblehead Of The Day: Russell Martin

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Russell Martin finally got a day off yesterday after starting 22 straight games. Russell is in the midst of a career-high 15-game hit streak and is batting .268 with four home runs and 12 RBI, so I understand why Joe Torre wanted him in the line-up everyday. He's hot. He's caught 323 2/3 innings so far this season, which ranks him second in the National League behind the Cardinal's Yadier Molina.

Because Russell has been playing so well lately, I thought I'd post his 2007 Dodger Stadium bobblehead. The bobblehead was given away on August 2, 2007 to the first 50,000 fans in attendance. Presented by Subway, this bobble was made by P Squared Promos. This was the last of three bobbleheads given away that year. The first two were Nomar Garciaparra(April 26) and Rafael Furcal(July 6). The Dodgers held online voting for the last bobblehead 0f 2007, and they chose Rusell Martin.

The Dodgers played the San Francisco Giants that night and lost 4-2. Barry Zito was the winning pitcher and Brett Tomko took the loss(I'm shocked).

Let's take a look at the bobblehead.







This is one of my favorite bobbleheads. It's not a player in the traditional batting stance, but in a defensive position, blocking the plate. The bobblehead looks like Russell too. They got the facial hair and skin tone down. 2007 was a good year for Dodger Stadium bobblehead SGA's, the Nomar and Furacal are also two more of my favorites.

Up next: 2007 Rafael Furcal bobblehead

Bobblehead Of The Day: Vladimir Guerrero

The World Series begins tonight in San Francisco as the Giants take on the Texas Rangers. I'd love to see this Rangers team sweep the series. One of my favorite players on the Rangers is Vladimir Guerrero. He's been one of my favorite players for a while now. He's a beast with the bat, and he'll swing that bat at damn near any pitch.

One of my favorite bobbleheads in my collection is my Anaheim Angels Vladimir Guerrero. I got this back on May 16, 2006. The bobblehead commemorates Vladdy winning the Silver Slugger Award in 2005. Presented by Suzuki, this bobble was made by BD&A Collectibles and was given away to all fans in attendance.

This bobble's got some nice details, from the silver bat Vladdy's swinging to the pine tar stained helmet he's wearing.

I had two of these bobbleheads. Back in July, I traded one of the two to Ryan at The Great Orioles Autograph Project. He sent me a Cal Ripken bobblehead in return. I'd say it was a good trade.

Hopefully, Vlad has a good series. I'll give the pinetar covered helmet a little bobble for good luck.

Go Rangers!

Bobblehead of the Day: 1974 Danny Goodman Dodger Stadium Bobblehead

In 1974, the Dodgers sold bobbleheads at the concession stand, Danny Goodman's Concessions, which was inside Dodger Stadium. You could get a bobblehead of any one of the 24 MLB teams. These nodders were 8" tall, made of plastic, and created in the style of the 1966-1971 Gold Base bobbleheads.

Here's a little history on Danny Goodman:

Danny Goodman was a pioneer in the truest sense. The man who spearheaded the promotion of the Dodgers when they moved out west, Goodman is credited with inventing the sports souvenir marketing industry.

Spending his adolescence and entire adult life in the concessions business, Goodman was a natural to run the Dodgers marketing staff since he worked for several major league teams before joining the Dodgers staff exclusively. His official title was Vice President and Director of Advertising and Promotion. It was Goodman who developed the Dodgers' bobblehead giveaway promotion. The executive was also one of Walter O'Malley's first hires when he moved the team to Los Angeles

I don't have the original box for this bobblehead, but it's in pretty good condition considering it's age. The decals on the chest and hat are still sticking to the bobblehead too. The spring inside the head is in great condition and the head bobbles very well.

Let's take a look:

Bobblehead of the Day: Fernando Valenzuela (2006)

The Dodgers/Yankees series ends today, along with all the hype surrounding it. I am glad to see it end, along with interleague play. There is a lot of history between the two teams. They have met up in the World Series 11 times. The last time the Dodgers and Yankees played in the Fall Classic was 1981. That year, a 20-year old Mexican pitcher named Fernando Valenzuela took the Dodger world by storm.

Fernando was the Dodgers' emergency Opening Day starter in 1981 after Jerry Reuss and Burt Hooten suffered injuries. In that first start, Valenzuela pitched a complete game shutout, beating the Houston Astros 2-0.  He went on to win his next seven starts, which also started "Fernandomania" here in Los Angeles. He ended up going 13-7 that year. He won the Rookie of the Year Award and Cy Young Award in 1981, the only player to win both in the same season.

In the 1981  playoffs, Fernando beat the Houston Astros, Montreal Expos(it's strange typing that) and the New York Yankees. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series.

Today we're gonna take a look at Fernando's second Dodger Stadium giveaway bobblehead. I posted his first stadium giveaway bobblehead back in April, but I may revisit that because I did such a short write-up. Anyway, on Friday, June 23, 2006, the Dodgers gave away Fernando Valenzuela bobbleheads to the first 50,000 fans in attendance. Presented by Bank of America, the bobblehead was made by P Squared Promotions. This was the second of three bobbleheads given away that year to commemorate the 1981 World Series Championship team. The first was "The Penguin" Ron Cey(June 2) and the third was Steve Garvey(July 28).

The Dodgers played the Pittsburgh Pirates that night and won 10-4.  Brett Tomko started the game for the Dodgers and Oliver Perez for the Pirates. Shockingly, Tomko won the game, going five innings, giving up no runs and only two hits. This game also marked the return of former Dodger manager Jim Tracy to Dodger Stadium. Jeff Kent hit a three-run homer, Jose Cruz Jr. had a two-run double and J.D. Drew also had two RBI in the game.

Let's take a look at Fernando "El Toro" Valenzuela:

Fernando looking to the sky

Fernando's high leg kick

Two hands in the air

I love this bobblehead. It looks like Fernando, from the facial features to the pose. I really wish the Dodgers would make more bobbleheads of past players. At least do one a year. They bring back a lot of memories.