Over at JABO (Just a Bit Outside), Rob Neyer shared the stores of his bobblehead collection. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I am slightly more obsessed with figurines that sit on my shelves than Mr. Neyer. I currently have over 40 in my collection that will continue to grow year after year (despite my girlfriend’s disapproval).

So how does one amass such a large collection of bobbleheads over the course of ten years? There is the easy way of buying them online, either eBay or from an online store. However, I am that person that will go to games specifically with the bobblehead promotions (I do go to other games as well).  However, multiples of these games where bobbleheads were handed out have very specific stories associated with them that I will share today:

Ike Davis Bobble-legs – Brooklyn Cyclones

My favorite bobblehead is not actually a bobblehead. It was given away courtesy of a game between the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Hudson Valley Renegades on August 2^nd, 2010 when the Brooklyn Cyclones gave out Ike Davis bobble-legs. Wait, a bobble-leg?  Before Ike Davis lost his starting first baseman job to Lucas Duda with the New York Mets in 2014, he was a top hitting prospect (a former 1^st round pick) and excellent defender known for making spectacular catches, flipping over railings. To take advantage of the phenomenon when Davis was first called up to the majors, the Cyclones, the Mets’ New York Penn-League Class A Short Season team, decided to give these special collectibles away to the first 2,500 fans.

For those that don’t remember, here is just one of multiple times Davis frequented ESPN’s Top Plays.

Endy Chavez – the Catch

The 2006 postseason is remembered by most MLB fans as the first time the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series since 1982. However, a Mets fan remembers Endy Chavez’s catch that robbed Scott Rolen of a two-run homer that would have given the St. Louis Cardinals the lead. Unfortunately, the catch wound up being meaningless as Yadier Molina later homered, and Carlos Beltran struck out looking to end the game. But Chavez’s neat heroics will go down as one of the greatest defensive plays ever.

In 2007, AIG, while they could still afford it (a year before becoming infamous for getting bailed out by the US government), handed out a bobblehead commemorating “the catch.” Still one of my favorite bobbleheads as it is a moment that defines my teenage years.

John Franco Bobblehead Day

One of my most memorable games where a bobblehead was given out was a doubleheader in June of 2003, between the New York Mets and the Seattle Mariners. John Franco, for a lot, is a not a household name. But this is particularly memorable for me because I finally got to see Edgar Martinez and Ichiro play live, and see John Olerud return to Shea Stadium, where he played for three seasons. Despite the Mets losing 13-1 and 7-0, it will still be one of the most memorable days at the ballpark with my dad.

Every game is memorable for the experience at the game but the promotion is a lasting reminder of the time at the ballpark. On May 2^nd I will be in Houston for the Jose Altuve hit counter bobblehead and that will once again leave a lasting memory of a game and a bobblehead.

Please share your memories or some of your favorite bobbleheads below in the comments.