My first list is my favorite and least favorite "concept bobbleheads". I define these loosely as bobbleheads that are not pure player representations. I will call those that are simply a player "baseball card bobbleheads". The lists below are those that are attempting to convey some message other than purely depicting a player. They may commemorate an event, some attribute of a player or simply try to be creative. My lists are five long for starters and will increase as visitors make suggestions.
My five favorite Concept Bobbleheads based on some initial thinking are:
5. Barry Bonds counter bobblehead. I am not a big fan of Bonds, but the idea of a counter as he chased the homerun record is creative. To me, Hank Aaron is still the homerun king, but I love this idea.
Image from baseballsnatcher.mlbblogs.com.4. Rickey Henderson Stolen Base King bobblehead. This is one on my wish list. There have been a handful of moments in recent times that we all recognize, and Henderson's claiming of the stolen base record is one of them. Anyone who sees it knows exactly what it shows. Rickey was all over the place during the second half of his career, and I am glad that he accomplished this feat with the A's. Very good likeness of Rickey and a great moment.
3. Boog Powell blood drive bobblehead. Another one from my wish list. Boog was a very good player and is a fixture in Baltimore as the owner of Boog's barbeque. Place a chef's hat on him makes this one fun, and is (as far as I know) the only bobblehead of a popular, all-star player.
Image from www.bobblebums.com
2. Minnie and Paul Twins mascot bobblehead. There are two of these out there. One was an SGA and one was sold at Twins Pro Shops. I am showing the SGA version because it has the state outline behind them with the river flowing down the middle. The retail version was actually two separate statues with a magnetic handshake. Anyone who has followed the Twins for a long time loves this logo.
1. Rick Monday flag bobblehead. While many of the newer concept bobbles are long reaches, this one is utterly brilliant. The night that Monday grabbed the flag from the two idiots who jumped onto the field to burn it is a "forever moment" on the ball field. Interestingly, while Monday is depicted in the Cubs uniform that he wore that night, it was actually a Dodger SGA. Nice work LA.
AND NOW...My list of the five weakest concept bobbleheads that I have seen.
5. Royals' condiment bobbleheads. I know that many people like these and they look kind of cool, but the Royals must have run completely out of ideas. They have some notable players who have yet to be made (i.e. Amos Otis and Bo Jackson). The Brewers can make sausages because they mean something to the team (between innings races dating back several years and the city's ethnic history of sausage-making) but please explain to me how condiments have a special meaning to the Royals. Last I checked, I could get ketchup or mustard on a hot dog at 29 other ballparks.
4. Main Cain running bobblehead. OK, I get that it was given out at a 5k, but it looks like some average blonde guy in running wear. At least the Sergio Romo race bobblehead had a cap and jersey. This one is only about baseball because the shirt says "Giants on it". If I look at the face first, it looks more like Mike Modano to me.
3. C.C.Sabathia Disco bobblehead. Let's see, it looks like any generic black guy, has no physical resemblance to Sabathia's physical stature, and evokes a brand of music that was dead before C.C. was born. At least he is wearing a glove (see #4 above). The Indians should have separated these two promos and given out Indians belt buckles or leisure suit t-shirts.
2. Adam Dunn/David Letterman bobblehead. I simply don't get it. The only common thread is that Dunn striking out has happened as often as Letterman has milked the same jokes. I was a big Letterman fan 25 years ago when he was funny, but someone please explain to me how these two concepts align. I suppose it could be worse. The Yankees could have created A-Rod in a Madonna costume.
Image from bleacherreport.com
1. Hunter Pence Go Green bobblehead. First of all, it doesn't look like Hunter Pence. Second of all, while I am certainly not anti-environment, "Go Green" is a tired phrase that is empty without some specific message. "Hey, he planted a tree. Wow!". This could have been interesting if the shovel had a bat for the handle, or Pence's jeans were hiked way up and he was wearing stirrups. The recently retired Astros uniforms were really bad, and look even worse in green. Worse than a yawn, its trite and boring....and it's Hunter Pence.
