Sports Dodgers’ first Ohtani bobblehead giveaway creates ‘a shuffle’ play
Shohei surprises pediatric patient with signed jersey, first pitch and suite (1:27)
Shohei Ohtani surprises Albert, a pediatric patient of UCLA Mattel Kid’s Sanatorium with a signed jersey, throwing out the first pitch and suite tickets to observe Thursday night’s Dodgers game. (1:27)
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May perchance just 16, 2024, 09:22 PM ET
LOS ANGELES — The most main Shohei Ohtani bobblehead giveaway tousled online page visitors outdoors Dodger Stadium on Thursday and created long strains for alive to fans.
Autos snaked the roadways around Chavez Ravine and stadium parking lots had been filling up swiftly two hours earlier than the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Cincinnati Reds. A line of fans waited on the sidewalk outdoors the principle gate earlier than it opened.
“Shohei creates a shuffle,” manager Dave Roberts said earlier than the sport. “I cannot accept as true with what it be admire outdoors. It be sizable for Shohei and it be appropriate for the Dodgers.”
Top the first 40,000 fans had been to catch the bobblehead, which depicts a smiling Ohtani alongside with his bat perched above his left shoulder. The field’s to find functions Japanese anime.
The giveaway attracted a sellout crowd of 53,527 — the supreme within the majors this season and basically the most at Dodger Stadium since Sept. 20, 2019.
“Factual overall a genuinely nice atmosphere to hold slightly a couple of fans within the stands,” Ohtani said thru an interpreter after going 0-for-2 with a trudge in Thursday’s 7-2 loss. “I’m very appreciative that all of them got right here tonight.”
On eBay, the Ohtani giveaway used to be being equipped for $150 and up with sellers promoting it as fresh within the field. As a shock, 1,700 street gray jersey bobbleheads had been randomly mixed in with the giveaway. One used to be listed for $2,300 on eBay.
“It be going to be a hot-trace item,” Roberts said. “The extra I observe him every day the extra I model how particular of a individual and a ballplayer he’s.”
Game tickets had been going from $168 to $388 with fees incorporated on StubHub.
Roberts and the relief of the Dodgers didn’t must anxiety about getting their palms on the memento. Bins had been set in every participant’s locker earlier than the sport.
“I to find one for every bobblehead night,” Roberts said, “so I’ve obtained slightly the gathering.”
The Dodgers hold scheduled three other Ohtani giveaways this season to place his first year with the physique of workers after spending six seasons in Anaheim with the Angels. They can offer a hat, a 2nd bobblehead and a shirt.
The Associated Press contributed to this file.