By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES — The second Shohei Ohtani bobblehead giveaway at Dodger Stadium proved just as popular as the first.
Or, “It’s déjà vu all over again,” as Yogi Berra liked to take credit for saying.
Long lines of cars were backed up on roads around the stadium five hours before the team hosted the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. Some fans were spotted lining up outside the stadium as early as 9 a.m.
Some drivers took to the wrong side of the road to negotiate a blocked intersection near one of the stadium gates where no traffic control officers were posted.
5 hours before game time the lines are long. It’s Ohtani/Dekopin Bobblehead Night. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/OOpzNqpjsx
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 28, 2024
“I’m just happy that I made it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “It took me forever to get inside Dodger Stadium. I actually picked up one of the Dodger workers. She was laboring up the hill so I picked her up and gave her a little lift.”
Excitement level for Shohei and Decoy. pic.twitter.com/54viWyFYBY
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 29, 2024
The Dodgers said only the first 40,000 fans – for a stadium with a capacity of about 56,000 – will get one of the bobbleheads, which depict a smiling Ohtani holding his dog named Decoy. And a very limited number of them are gold, adding to the demand – not to mention the potential value.
Someone has pulled a gold Shohei Ohtani and Decoy bobblehead during the giveaway at Dodger Stadium tonight pic.twitter.com/s9tpqLFQxs
— MLB (@MLB) August 29, 2024
“Man, there is a high demand for this dang bobblehead,” Roberts said.
Fans, many of them Japanese, waited patiently under a hot sun in a line that stretched well away from the main gate, before it opened. By 2:30 p.m., the line had become so long, the demand to enter so high, that parking gates were essentially forced to open – two hours before they normally would for a 7:10 first pitch.
The first gold bobblehead goes to Shohei and Decoy. pic.twitter.com/lpziRN9d8X
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 28, 2024
The first Ohtani bobblehead giveaway in May – featuring him in his batting stance –attracted a sellout crowd of 53,527 – the largest in MLB this season and the most at Dodger Stadium since Sept. 20, 2019. The promotion snarled traffic for hours ahead of game time.
Ohtani walked, popped out and struck out that night in a 7-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Decoy “delivered” a ceremonial first pitch to Ohtani as part of the pregame festivities on Wednesday, then Ohtani homered in his first at-bat to give the Dodgers an early lead.
Decoy and Shohei with the cutest first pitch you've ever seen. pic.twitter.com/fEoFRxMOH4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 29, 2024
The Dodgers have scheduled one more Ohtani giveaway to mark the two-way superstar’s first season with the team after he spent his first six major league seasons with the Angels. The September promotion will be a shirt. The team gave away hats in July.
Ohtani joined the Dodgers last December, signing a $700 million, 10-year contract. Last week, he became the fastest player in major league history – and sixth ever – with 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the same season – and he achieved the feat in the same game.
He’s now taking aim at something that’s never been done before: 50 homers and 50 stolen bases.
Roberts said he is still surprised by the mania that surrounds Ohtani.
“When you’re in it day to day, he’s a baseball player that just wants to play,” the manager said, “but when you see him impact and move the needle like he does and has, I’ve just never seen anything like this. It is incredible.”
