Bobbleheads And Ten Other Odd, Interesting And Unusual Giveaways And Promotions Around The Majors In 2008

Every season, teams in the majors lace their home schedules with various promotions and giveaways to bring fans out to the ballpark. The most popular giveaway these days is the bobblehead.

With the exception of the Padres, Yankees and Red Sox, 27 of the 30 major league teams have bobble offers and there are over 100 bobble promotions that litter the major league schedule. Current, future and past stars will be immortalized through extra large nodding likenesses of themselves. The Pirates feature the most with 9 bobble offerings including 7 of the 8 players from their 1975 starting lineup (minus Frank Taveras) in their Pittsburgh Lumber Co. series. In addition to the bobble, here are ten other promotions and giveaways found on the major league schedules:

10. The Real Cheap Seats In Minnesota

While a box seat near the infield in New York goes for at least $250 to see the last Yankees games at Yankee Stadium and the average ticket price across the majors increased to $25.40 in ’08, the Twins are offering a Cheap Seat season ticket package. How cheap? For just $250, a diehard Twins fan can see all 81 home games at the next-to-last season at the Metrodome. That’s just $3.09 per game.

9. All-You-Can Eat, Baby!

If you’re a fan that’s excited by Dollar Dog Day at the game then you might be eager to find that many teams are offering an All-You-Can Eat package ranging from $30-$45 depending on the team. The Athletics, Orioles, Rangers, Royals, Braves, Dodgers and Padres all have designated All-You-Can Eat sections for fans hungry to see more than a game.

8. How About Baseball And A Concert?

A number of teams are offering concerts before or after their games. The Pirates offer up REO Speedwagon and Collective Soul and the Marlins offer KC and the Sunshine Band and former Poison front man and current reality TV star Bret Michaels. The Devil Rays have the most extensive and unusual concert series featuring The Commodores, Trace Adkins, Kool And The Gang, LL Cool J and (mark your calendars for July 19) MC Hammer.

7. Hispanic Heritage Salsa Bowl Night In Anaheim

Many teams feature days celebrating cultural diversity. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim took it a step further. All fans in attendance for the Mariners-Angels game on September 13 will receive a Salsa Bowl celebrating Hispanic Heritage month. Salsa not included.

6. A Designer T-Shirt At A Baseball Game?

Sure, if you consider Bronson Arroyo a designer. The Astros-Reds game on August 9 will feature a Bronson Arroyo-designed T-shirt for the first 20,000 fans in attendance. The Athletics take the designer shirt a step further as they give away a shirt designed by the winner of their fan designed T-Shirt contest on September 21.

5. Relive A Great Moment Just For The Heck Of It

The Tigers hook up their fans on April 15 with a copy of Justin Verlander’s 2007 no hitter on DVD. What’s odd about this giveaway is that the date has no significance to Verlander’s 2007 no hitter. The no hitter came against the Brewers during Interleague play on June 12, 2007 but the April 15 game is against the Twins. Most likely Verlander won’t be pitching that day, either as it looks like Nate Robertson’s spot in the rotation. It’ll probably be a bigger hit than the Royals Storm Station Duel DVD for School Day At The “K” featuring the Fox 4 weather team. Talk about a no hitter.

4. Make Some Noise!

The Marlins decided in the offseason to encourage their fans to make some noise during home games. Instead of going out and signing a big name in the offensive production department, the Marlins have Thunder Stick night on May 17, Cow Bell night on June 7, Tambourine night on September 13 and Maraca night on September 20. Just what the game needs… more cow bell!

3. What’s In A Name?

The Padres may have avoided the bobblehead bug but they could not pass up on a slam dunk of a promotion featuring one of the more fun names to say in the majors. All fans in attendance at the June 20 game between the Padres and Tigers will not only be able to reminisce about an ’84 World Series rematch but will walk away with their very own Kevin Kouzmanoff Koozie to keep their drink cold. Too bad the Red Sox aren’t in the giveaway game, Coco Crisp has so much potential.

2. An Interesting Way To Lure Fans To The Ballpark

On May 2, the Twins promotion department thinks they can hook some fans by offering a Joe Mauer fishing lure. Mauer’s #7 and the Twins logo emblazon the silver and black fish-shaped lure. The lure will be tough to get as it is available to the first 5,000 fans only.

1. J. J. Putz Is Not Just The Mariners Closer, He’s A Marketing Dream

The Seattle closer who notched 76 saves in the past two seasons is the centerpiece of three Mariners giveaways in 2008. There’s the standard J.J. Putz Bobblehead night on May 16 against the Padres. Putz is also featured on the latest Mariners Train Car in their long running Train Car series. Collectors who have nabbed the eight previous train cars can add the J.J. Putz’ “Flamethrower” Express to their collection on May 30 against the Tigers. Hopefully, those fans will be wearing their J.J. Putz Soul Patch that they received on April 12 while watching the Mariners take on the Angels.

MAKE IT A BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT

This year’s MLB season features over 100 Bobblehead giveaways across the majors. Here’s the list of who will be nodding their way into fan’s and collector’s hands in 2008:

Current Players Bobbleheads

Angels:Torii Hunter (5/4), John Lackey (6/9)
Astros:Hunter Pence (4/12), Roy Oswalt (5/24), Lance Berkman (8/1), Milo Hamilton (8/15), Brad Ausmus (8/29)
Athletics:Travis Buck (4/19), Kurt Suzuki (6/6)
Blue Jays:Aaron Hill (5/3), Frank Thomas (5/25), Alex Rios (7/27)
Braves:Mark Texeira (5/21), Brian McCann (6/25), Tim Hudson (8/27)
Brewers:Prince Fielder (4/6), Ryan Braun (6/1), J.J. Hardy (8/24), Corey Hart (9/7)
Cardinals:Albert Pujols (9/7)
Cubs:Derrek Lee (4/18), Alfonso Soriano (5/13), Kosuke Fukudome (5/27), Carlos Zambrano (9/17)
Diamondbacks:Micah Owings (4/19), Chris Young (5/17), Eric Byrnes (8/23), Dan Haren (9/13)
Dodgers:Takashi Saito (6/5)
Giants:Matt Cain (7/27), Bengie Molina (9/6)
Indians:C.C. Sabathia (5/3), Grady Sizemore (5/24 & 9/13), Travis Hafner (6/24), Jhonny Peralta (8/11), Asdrubal Cabrera (8/30), Fausto Carmona (9/14)
Mariners:Ichiro (4/25), J.J. Putz (5/16), Adrian Beltre (6/13), Felix Hernandez (7/18), Yuniesky Betancourt (8/8)
Mets:Billy Wagner (8/10), Johan Santana (9/7)
Nationals:Dmitri Young (5/1), Ryan Zimmerman (6/5)
Orioles:Nick Markakis (6/19)
Phillies:Jamie Moyer (4/30), Jimmy Rollins (6/4)
Pirates:Tom Gorzelanny (4/16), Matt Capps (5/24)
Rangers:C.J. Wilson (5/16), Michael Young (6/7), Hank Blalock (6/27)
Reds:Brandon Philips (5/17), Adam Dunn (7/26)
Rockies:Troy Tulowitzki (6/7), Matt Holliday (7/15), Todd Helton (8/23)
Royals:Alex Gordon (6/21), Tony Pena Jr. (9/6)
Tigers:Curtis Granderson (5/20), Miguel Cabrera (9/3)
Twins:Ron Gardenhire (5/4), Delmon Young (7/19)
White Sox:Nick Swisher (8/10)

Manager Bobbleheads

Angels:Mike Scioscia (4/17)
Braves:Bobby Cox (9/9)
Diamondbacks:Bob Melvin (7/19)
Dodgers:Joe Torre (4/25)

Former Players Bobbleheads

Astros:Craig Biggio (5/4), Jeff Bagwell (5/25)
Cardinals:Red Schoendist (9/26)
Giants:Masanori Murakami (5/16), “Lefty” O’Doul (9/8)
Pirates:Manny Sanguillen (4/11), Willie Stargell (5/9), Richie Hebner (6/6), Dave Parker (6/27), Al Oliver (7/25), Richie Zisk (8/29), Rennie Stennett (9/12)
Reds:Tom Browning (9/16)
Royals:John Mayberry (5/31), Dan Quisenberry (7/26), Larry Gura (8/9)
Twins:Dan Gladden (6/20), Rick Aguilera (9/6)

Mascots And Other Miscellaneous Bobbleheads

Brewers:Polish Sausage Racer (6/22), Barrel Man (7/6)
Cardinals:Fredbird Bobble Belly (6/15)
Devil Rays:Donald Duck (4/22), Goofy (4/23), Mickey Mouse (4/24)
Diamondbacks:Baxter Toothbrush Holder Bobble (6/1)
Giants:Crazy Crab (7/18)
Marlins:15 ^th Anniversary Bobble (9/19)

To Be Determined Bobbleheads

Athletics:Bobblehead #3 (7/27), Bobblehead #4 (8/29)
Dodgers:Bobblehead #3 (6/25), Fans Choice Bobble (8/12)
Phillies:Fans Choice Bobble (8/20)