Remember the thrill of snagging a mini baseball bat at the Stadium’s “Bat Day” as a kid, be it for the Los Angeles Dodgers or the New York Yankees? Sports broadcaster Rich Eisen reminisced about this recently, contrasting it with the frenzy surrounding a Shohei Ohtani bobblehead giveaway at Dodger Stadium. This shift in-stadium giveaways highlights a fascinating evolution in fan culture and marketing strategies.

Back in Eisen’s day, giveaways were more practical. Not to mention a bit unhinged. Imagine handing out full-sized bats to tens of thousands of kids! While these giveaways might have been “lethal weapons” as Eisen joked, referencing the time when he would go for the Yankees games, they undoubtedly added to the excitement of attending a game.

Fast forward to the present day, and bobbleheads reign supreme. The Ohtani bobblehead giveaway at Dodger Stadium perfectly exemplifies this trend.  Limited quantities, coupled with the high demand for a star player’s collectible, created a frenzy. Some fans even listed the bobbleheads online for thousands of dollars!

He precisely shares, “This to people in the Bronx, such will hand New York such a bad idea hey come to the game and we will hand you arguably a lethal weapon there’s no argument about it dude and they were real bad they weren’t like those little mini ones they gave you real freaking baseball bat in the by way here’s three beers yeah to kids they gave the kids beers I do remember those little ones when we would go to family park still mess you up and it was just like those are dangerous but the f like yeah and it was the first 10,000 fans got a real bat going to be the same bat that Chris Chamblis is going to use yeah to try and get to home plate after beating the royals that’s gone”. Lets harken back to the OG Bobblehead of Shohei Otani.

The drastic shift From the 1970s – The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Bobblehead of Shohei Ohtani

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ shift compared to the 1970s towards limited-edition, collectible items highlights a change in how teams approach giveaways.  It’s no longer just about adding to the in-game experience. Teams are now using giveaways as strategic marketing tools to generate excitement and potentially even revenue through secondary markets.

But is this evolution a positive one? While limited-edition bobbleheads can create a buzz, they also raise concerns about fairness.  Eisen highlighted the disappointment of young fans who arrived late and missed out on the Ohtani bobbleheads.  This raises the question of whether giveaways should prioritize creating collectible items or ensuring all fans get a piece of the action.

Ultimately, the evolution of baseball giveaways reflects a changing sports landscape. Teams including that of Shohei Ohtani’s are constantly looking for new ways to engage fans and create buzz.  While the nostalgia of a mini bat giveaway might linger, the bobblehead era is here to stay, at least for now.  The challenge for teams lies in striking a balance between creating excitement and ensuring an inclusive experience for all fans.