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The Hall Doesn’t Clown Around As Hank Aaron Indy Clowns Negro Leagues Bobbles Are Here

by | Dec 10, 2021 | Sniper Rants

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled two officially licensed, limited-edition bobbleheads featuring Hall of Famer Hank Aaron wearing the uniform of the storied Indianapolis Clowns, who were the last of the Negro League teams to disband in 1962. The two bobbleheads commemorate the three months that Aaron spent with the Clowns during the 1952 season – his first in professional baseball. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum collaborated with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Dreams Fulfilled to produce a series of officially licensed Negro Leagues bobbleheads.

Wearing a blue No. 5 Clowns’ uniform with red and white trim, the first bobblehead features a smiling Aaron batting cross-handed as he did with the Clowns, while the second bobblehead features a smiling Aaron waiting on deck and holding four bats. Both bobbleheads are on a baseball field base. Along with his name in gold on the front, the bobbleheads include “In Memoriam: Feb. 5, 1934 – Jan. 22, 2021” on the back.

The bobbleheads, which just arrived and ship now, are available for purchase through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. They are individually numbered to 4,136 to correspond to Aaron’s career hit total (41 Negro Leagues, 324 Minor Leagues and 3,771 Major Leagues). The bobbleheads are $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order. Hank Aaron Bobbleheads

On November 20th, 1951, 17-year-old Aaron was signed by scout Ed Scott to play shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns, one of the storied franchises in the Negro American League. Scott, who became the first African American scout in the history of the Boston Red Sox, spotted Aaron playing in a softball game in Mobile, Alabama. “If that boy can hit a softball that far, how far can he hit a baseball?” Ed Scott Jr. quoted his father as saying. In his three-month stint playing for Clowns manager Buster Haywood during the 1952 season, the cross-handed hitting Aaron played shortstop and batted third or cleanup. In 26 games, Aaron batted .366 with five home runs, 33 RBI and nine stolen bases, according to the Howe Sports Bureau.

Aaron, who earned $200 month with the Clowns, received two MLB contract offers via telegram due to his standout play. In the end, he chose the Boston Braves over the New York Giants. “I had the Giants’ contract in my hand, but the Braves offered 50 dollars a month more,” Aaron once said. “That’s the only thing that kept Willie Mays and me from being teammates – 50 dollars.” Once in the minor leagues, the right-handed hitting Aaron changed his cross-handed grip (left hand above his right) – a grip that he credited for developing his legendary quick wrists, allowing him to wait on pitches longer than a mortal baseball player. “I looked for the same pitch my whole career, a breaking ball,” he said. “All of the time. I never worried about the fastball. They couldn’t throw it past me. None of them.”

In his 23-year Major League career in which he played for the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers from 1954 to 1976, Aaron recorded 755 home runs. He famously broke Babe Ruth’s career home run record with his 715th home run on April 8th, 1974. Aaron is MLB’s all-time leader in RBI (2,297), total bases (6,856) and extra-base hits (1,477). Aaron was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, which was his first year of eligibility.

“Hank Aaron will forever be one of the best players in baseball history, and part of that history includes his time with the Indianapolis Clowns,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “It’s important to remember the history of the Negro Leagues, and this bobblehead will help keep that part of Aaron’s legacy alive.”

 

Ja Morant Is A Superstar And The Bobblehead Hall Has You Covered

by | Dec 10, 2021 | Sniper Rants

Ja Morant is slowly starting to take over the league as an up and rising superstar. The Bobblehead Hall of Fame honors this young buck today with 2 new bobbleheads. The Draft Day bobblehead commemorates Morant’s selection as the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Knucklehead Bobblehead features Morant in his Grizzlies jersey.

Morant burst onto the scenes in the NBA after leading the Murray State Racers to the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. He was named the 2019-2020 NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game.

“Bobbleheads make the perfect gift for any fan and we’re excited that these bobbleheads featuring one of the NBA’s biggest stars arrived just in time for the holidays,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said.

The Draft Day bobbleheads are individually numbered to only 2,019 and the Knucklehead Bobbleheads are numbered to 2,021.

The Knucklehead bobbleheads are $30 each, while the Draft Day bobbleheads are $45 each. There is an $8 flat-rate shipping charge per order. The bobbleheads were produced by FOCO. 

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st. St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country.

Click here to add some Morant swag to your bobblehead collection. 

Ja Morant Swag Bobbleheads

 

 

 

The Bobblehead Hall Honors Civil Rights Leader John Lewis

by | Dec 10, 2021 | Sniper Rants

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled limited-edition bobbleheads of John Lewis standing on the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge. The first bobblehead features the 1965 version of Lewis the civil rights activist wearing a white shirt, tie, beige trench coat and backpack The second bobblehead features an older version of Lewis the U.S. Congressman wearing a blue suit with his arms crossed.

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum will be donating 10% from every bobblehead sold to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. Established in 1991, the NCRM is regarded as one of the nation’s premier heritage and cultural museums. It is located at the former Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, was assassinated on April 4th, 1968.

Each bobblehead, is individually numbered to 2,021 and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which just arrived and ship now, are $25 each or $45 for the set of 2 plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order. John Lewis Bobbleheads

On March 7th, 1965, a pivotal movement in the civil rights movement occurred when roughly 600 marchers were met by state and local lawmen after crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. The lawmen attacked the marchers with billy clubs and tear gas as television cameras rolled and still images were circulated in print media around the world, earning the event the nickname “Bloody Sunday.” One of the leaders of the march that day was a 25-year-old Lewis, the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee who suffered a fractured skull from a beating he received. Demonstrators were attempting to march to the state capital in Montgomery. It was one of three Selma-to-Montgomery marches for voting rights, and the efforts ultimately led to passage of the Voting Rights Act.

The son of Alabama sharecroppers, Lewis grew up to help change the world with his passionate belief in justice. After experiencing the injustice of segregation, Lewis was arrested more than 40 times during his days of civil rights activism. As the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, he was one of the “Big Six” leaders of groups who organized the historic March on Washington in 1963. As a Democrat, Lewis represented Georgia in the United States Congress from 1987 until his death in 2020 and was the first Black lawmaker to lay in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Prior to his death, Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011.

“We are honored to release these bobbleheads of the iconic John Lewis who has been an inspiration for so many people across the globe,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “As a leader of the civil rights movement, Mr. Lewis was front and center at many of our nation’s pivotal civil rights moments, including the ‘Bloody Sunday’ march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 and we think these bobbleheads will be a great way to honor and celebrate him.”

Make No Lumberjack About It As Paul Bunyan And Babe The Blue Ox Live On Forever

by | Dec 3, 2021 | Sniper Rants

When you think of lumberjacks, you think of Paul Bunyan. As North American’s lumberjack folk hero, Bunyan was always accompanied by Babe the Blue Ox. Known for superhuman labors, Paul Bunyan is a legend in Bemidji, Minnesota as many statues can been seen and visited by fans from all over the world. Bunyan himself has been the subject of various literary compositions, musical pieces, commercial works and theatrical productions. 

I recently scored this gem of a prototype bobblehead of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Word has it, this was sold in a gift shop in Bemidji, Minnesota and 500 were actually manufactured. The one I obtained has the front emblem that reads “Bemidji Paul Bunyan 1937” and some others I’ve seen online have a sponsor emblem that reads “True North”. The bottom of the base has some Chinese lettering that most likely indicates this was the initial one made prior to mass production. Either way you split it, this bobblehead tells a a great story of a legend in Minnesota who lumberjacks look up to and is a great destination location for visitors. 

The Bobble Hall Celebrates The Birthdays Of Diggs And Wilson With New Bobbleheads

by | Nov 29, 2021 | Sniper Rants

Stefon Diggs was born on November 29, 1993, in Alexandria, Virginia, and will turn 28 on the day of the bobblehead’s release. Diggs was traded to the Bills on March 20th, 2020 and made an immediate impact with his new team. The speedster amassed 127 receptions and 1,535 – both career and league highs – to go along with eight touchdown catches as he was named first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career. He became the fastest receiver in franchise history to surpass 100 catches and broke Eric Moulds’ team record for receiving yards in a season. This season, Diggs has helped the Bills to one of the best records in the AFC.

A riding bobblehead featuring Josh Allen was previously released, and the first batch sold out. Additional bobbleheads featuring Allen riding the buffalo are arriving in January and are available for pre-order at Bobbleheads

“We’re excited to release this bobblehead of Stefon as part of our Player Riding series,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “The Buffalo Bills have become one of the top teams in the NFL thanks to the addition to Stefon Diggs, and this bobblehead will be a must-have for Bills fans.”

The bobbleheads are produced by FOCO. In addition to Diggs, it’s also Russell Wilson’s birthday today and the Bobblehead Hall of Fame took notice. 

Russell Wilson was born on November 29, 1988, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and will turn 33 on the day of the bobblehead’s release. Wilson was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 2012 NFL Draft with the 75th overall pick. He’s played his entire 10-year career with the Seahawks, becoming a fan favorite. He led the Seahawks to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title in 2014 and has been selected to the Pro Bowl seven times including the last four seasons. He recently commented that he wants to play at least another 10 years in the NFL and own an NFL franchise when he retires.

 

“We’re excited to be releasing this awesome new bobblehead featuring one of the NFL’s biggest stars,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Russell Wilson has been a legend both on and off the field and we think fans will love this new bobblehead.”

I’m sure fans will appreciate hearing about this unique new bobblehead so they can get one before they’re gone! Click below to view the largest selection of bobbleheads anywhere!

Bobbleheads

AGP Sings The Blues With 2 Prototype B.B. King Bobbleheads

by | Nov 23, 2021 | Sniper Rants

Riley B. King, better known as B.B. King still remains the King of Blues. He has defined the blues for a worldwide audience since he started recording in the 1940s and has released over fifty albums, many of them classics. He was born September 16, 1925, on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, near Indianola. In his youth, he played on street corners for dimes, and would sometimes play in as many as four towns a night. In 1947, he hitchhiked to Memphis, TN, to pursue his music career. Memphis was where every important musician of the South gravitated, and which supported a large musical community where every style of African American music could be found. 

The rest is history as B.B. was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Fans and Blues lovers will always remember the King as he passed away on May 14th of 2015 in Las Vegas. 

Just recently, I came upon 2 prototype bobbleheads of B.B. King manufactured by Alexander Global Promotions. Both have B.B. sitting on a stool playing a guitar as he’s smiling at the crowd. He’s in a sleek tan suit with and brown shoes as B.B. was always dressed head to toe in high fashion.

To date, it remains a mystery to who these prototype bobbleheads were manufactured for, whether it was a sports team or King’s production crew. Only time will tell as the King of Blues’ 2 prototype items are great story pieces.