Bobblehead Beatdown

In addition to three bobblehead giveaways at Turner Field this year, both the Gwinnett and Rome minor league affiliates are featuring bobblehead nights. The major league franchise’s strategy is to hold the popular giveaway during the week to boost attendance. Weekend games are always well attended, leaving little need for expensive promotions.

You’d think the same would hold true at the minor league level, but five of the six bobblehead night in Rome and Gwinnett are on Saturday nights (number six is a Friday night). The difference? On most of these weekend nights the minor league teams are competing against Atlanta Braves home games. Fans living near Rome and Gwinnett are less likely to travel to Atlanta during a weeknight than on the weekend. The minor league teams need the big weekend promotion to keep fans from driving down to see the big boys.

Attendance does swell for bobblehead giveaways. I know I try to attend those games. Fans line up early, before the gates open. Many come just to get the bobblehead. After securing their prize, they head back to their car instead of staying for the game. That night the bobbleheads are posted on eBay, to be sold at outrageous prices. Turner Field ushers do not allow fans to re-enter to gobble up multiple bobbleheads, though many scofflaws try. Some do succeed.

Minor league bobblehead nights are much less appealing, for several reasons. The attendance increase for these promotions is much larger, in proportion to a regular crowd. With fewer total bobbleheads to be given away, the line waiting for fewer stadium gates to open is even longer. And the quality of minor league bobbleheads is poorer. Facial features are not as distinct, there’s usually an ugly local advertisement (as opposed to a Coke or Delta logo on the base), and it’s not the major league uniform. All together, these negatives make minor league bobbleheads hardly worth the effort. Several years ago I packed the fam into the minivan and drove up to Rome for Jeff Francoeur bobblehead night. I was so disappointed that I didn’t return several weeks later for the Brain McCann bobblehead.

The 2013 Bobblehead Schedule:

April 6: Gwinnett Braves Brandon Beachy

April 20: Rome Braves Henry the Hot Dog

May 18: Gwinnett Braves Jason Heyward

May 30: Atlanta Braves Freddie Freeman

June 20: Atlanta Braves BJ Upton

July 6: Gwinnett Braves Kris Medlin

July 11: Atlanta Braves Dale Murphy

July 19: Rome Braves Craig Kimbrel

August 10: Gwinnett Braves Craig Kimbrel

I already have a Murphy, Kimbrel, and Heyward (also Aaron, Spahn, Mathews, Hudson, Teixeira, Uggla, Sid Bream, Francoeur, two Chippers, and two of Bobby Cox). These days my youngest son is more interested in displaying music memorabilia than yielding shelf space for more bobbleheads. While I plan on adding Freeman and Murphy to my collection, I will not be able to attend the Upton giveaway. If my son or daughter go with me to the Freeman night, hopefully I make a Craig’s List trade for an Upton. I’d like to trade for an old Greg Maddux bobblehead.