Bobbleheads Bobble Sniper

Nothing “Rosie” About It As O’Donnell’s Request Never Came To Fruition

by | Nov 1, 2021 | Sniper Rants

Rosie O’Donnell is known for her outspoken views on a myriad of topics and also finds herself in much controversy within her career. There’s no denying her T.V. personality, her acting ability, producing ability on a number of shows and her best selling author awards, that put her in a category many women can only imagine. 

Back in 1999 when Alexander Global Promotions started the bobblehead craze with their famous Willie Mays bobblehead, word got out that O’Donnell herself wanted in on a bobblehead. According to long lasting employees at AGP, O’Donnell’s reps reached out to the company and sprung the idea of having a bobblehead made of Rosie. They requested that AGP manufactured a bobblehead that displays Rosie on her T.V. show with her sitting behind her desk. The rest is history as the bobblehead never came to fruition as this is the lone one in existence. 

First and foremost, this bobblehead has the old school AGP design as it’s heavy as shit and very large. It’s not your standard bobblehead as the weight is literally almost 2lbs. This thing is GIGANTIC! Anyone who collects the older AGP bobbles knows the recognizable green base with the black raised lettering. The replica mahogany desk is very well built and has Rosie’s name front and center. She’s positioned sitting in her T.V. show chair ready to make her loyal fans laugh and entertained. Considering this was manufactured around 1999 or 2000, the facial features are damn near on point as Rosie did have a somewhat of a chubby face.

 

Given this is the only 1 of 1 prototype made and for whatever reason the show didn’t follow through on the request, any Rosie O’Donnell fan would sure love this in their collection. One can only imagine if Rosie’s representatives didn’t back out from this opportunity, this one of a kind bobble would sure be a sentimental collector’s item for any Rosie fan. 

Sniper

The Bobblehead Hall Celebrates the 135th Anniversary Of The Statue Of Liberty

by | Oct 28, 2021 | Sniper Rants

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled two Statue of Liberty Bobbleheads that play The Star-Spangled Banner at the push of a button. The first bobblehead features the Statue’s current green color while the second features the Statue’s original copper color. These mark the first Statue of Liberty Bobbleheads that incorporate sound as well as the first bobblehead featuring the Statue’s copper color. The bobbleheads are being unveiled today to coincide with the 135th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty’s dedication, which was on October 28, 1886.

The bobbleheads feature a replica of the Statue of Liberty positioned atop the iconic pedestal and star-shaped Fort Wood. Each bobblehead, which plays the full national anthem, is individually numbered with the green version numbered to 18,860 and the copper version numbered to 1,886 to commemorate the year of the Statue’s dedication. The bobbleheads are available exclusively through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which just arrived and ship now, are $30 each or $50 for the set of 2, plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

A gift from the people of France to the people of the United States to celebrate the friendship the two endured during the American Revolution, the statue was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel. In 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates, it arrived in the U.S. aboard the French vessel Isere in 1885. The statue was dedicated on October 28th, 1886 and is located on Liberty Island in the New York Harbor.

Symbolizing the freedom and democracy of the United States, the statue is a figure of Libertas, a robed Roman liberty goddess. She holds a torch above her head with her right hand. In her left, she holds a tablet inscribed July IV MDCCLXXVI which is July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals—the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. A broken shackle and chain lays at her feet as she walks forward, commemorating the national abolition of slavery. The statue is seen as a symbol to welcome immigrants arriving by sea.

Until 1901, the Statue of Liberty was the responsibility of the U.S. Lighthouse Board. In 1901, the war department took control. On October 15th, 1924, a Presidential Proclamation declared Fort Wood and the Statue of Liberty a National Monument. Since 1933, it has been maintained by the National Park Service as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and is a major tourist attraction. Public access to the balcony around the torch has been barred since 1916, but visitors have access to the statue’s pedestal observation deck, promenade, museum, the area of Fort Wood and Ellis Island. The statue inscription is the Emma Lazarus poem, “The New Colossus.” It was written to help raise money for the construction of the pedestal of the monument in 1883 and was eventually engraved on a bronze plaque in 1903: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your Huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Lady Liberty was not always the iconic green color that is so recognizable today. The statue was made from copper and iron which gave it a shiny copper color which it first arrived to America Over time, the copper started to oxidize and gradually change color from brown to red to green. By 1920, the statue had completely oxidized and turned green, and experts believe the color will no longer change.

“The iconic Statue of Liberty is a national treasure and symbol of freedom for all Americans,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “We are honored to produce these unique, new bobbleheads that people across the world will be able to display with pride.”

Statue of Liberty National Anthem Singing Bobbleheads

AGP Celebrates The Great Lionel Messi In The Form Of A Rare Bobblehead

by | Oct 27, 2021 | Sniper Rants

Throughout the world of professional soccer, Lionel Messi is considered one of the greatest players of all time. There are so many awards that he’s won, including a club record 35 trophies and many league championship titles. The prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, he holds the record for most goals (474) in a European league season and a career 750 goals for a single club and country. Messi played his entire career professional career with Barcelona until leaving recently in 2021.

I recently came upon this gem of a bobblehead of the great Messi as us bobblehead collectors don’t often see many soccer bobbles on the open market.  For whatever reason, Alexander Global Promotions was on track in manufacturing a Messi bobblehead to be given out to fans attending a Barcelona game, but abruptly production of the item came to a screeching halt. The one that I have in possession is a salesman’s sample prototype 1 of 3 that were manufactured. 

Messi is positioned in a celebratory “scoring” stance most likely after he scored yet another goal for Barcelona. The front nameplate displays his name in raised letters on a replica soccer turf base. The Barcelona team jersey and short are outlined in Barcelona colors with his number #10 on the back. The pinpoint detail of his right sleeve tattoo is imprinted and not just a lazy sticker thrown on his arm. Lastly, the box is full of colorful images of other professional athletes that include the Triple Crown Mickey Mantle bobble and Dwayne Wade of the Chicago Bulls. 

 

Messi will forever been known as one of the greatest players to take the field and if production was passed on this bobblehead, it would have meant the world to Barcelona fans. 

 

The Memphis Grizzlies Almost Came Close To Celebrating The King Of Rock “N” Roll

by | Oct 25, 2021 | Sniper Rants

Elvis Presley has some deep roots in Memphis, Tennessee as he and his family moved there when he was only 13 years old. From there his music career began in 1954 and the rest is history as he was well known as “The King of Rock “N” Roll”. I recently obtained a rare piece of The King himself in the form of a bobblehead. 

Rumor has it, the Memphis Grizzlies wanted to celebrate 60 years of Rock “N” Roll by handing out an Elvis Presley “Grizzly” bobblehead to their fans. All the cards were set in place and for some unknown reason, the production of the bobblehead was canceled at the last minute per AGP. I’ve been told this one of a kind bobblehead was never given out and only the 1 of 1 prototype exists. 

The bobblehead displays with a navy blue circular base that has raised letters on the front that reads, “60 Years of Rock “N” Roll. Elvis or the Grizzly has his guitar positioned on the base as that is what Elvis was known for. The bronze suit is detailed with glitter around the collar to stand out like the celebrity he was. Lastly, the Grizzly head design is as detailed as they come as his yellow eyes sparkle as Elvis takes the stage.

It’s unfortunate that the Grizzly fans never had the opportunity to score this one of a kind bobblehead as “The King of Rock “N” Roll” lives on forever in Memphis. 

The Bobblehead Hall Of Fame Honors Bernie Sanders From His Viral Moment

by | Oct 22, 2021 | Sniper Rants

Bernie Sanders had no idea when he woke up the morning of the Inauguration that he’d turn into an internet sensation. We all saw the way he sat and we all saw his attire he wore that morning. Today, the Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum pays tribute to the great Bernie Sanders.

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled four new Bernie Sanders Inauguration Day Mittens Bobbleheads featuring the United States Senator’s viral moments. The original Bernie Sanders Inauguration Day Mittens Bobblehead was unveiled on Inauguration Day and quickly became a best-seller. The new bobbleheads feature a Standing version, and new versions of the sitting bobblehead including an Ornament, a Dashboard Mini, and a Mantle Mate. The special edition bobbleheads were produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

The original Bernie Sanders Inauguration Day Bobblehead commemorates the viral moment when Sanders was pictured watching the Inauguration ceremony to swear in Joe Biden as the nation’s 46th President. The bobblehead features a masked Sanders, wearing a jacket and mittens, sitting on a folding chair with his legs crossed on a white podium base.

The new bobbleheads, which all just arrived and ship now, are available exclusively from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum and are detailed below:

    •    Ornament ($20) – The original bobblehead turned into a four-inch ornament that bobbles.

    •    Dashboard Mini ($20) – This four-inch version of the original version is perfect for the dashboard of a car.

    •    Standing ($25) – Prior to finding his seat at the inauguration ceremony, Bernie was captured walking down the stairs holding an envelope and what appeared to be a check while wearing the viral mittens. That moment is now captured in bobblehead form as well.

    •    Mantle Mate ($25) – This version sits perfectly on any table, mantle, desk, shelf.

    •    A limited number of the original bobblehead are available in the Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store for $25.

To date, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has sold close to 30,000 of the original Bernie Sanders Inauguration Day Bobbleheads, making it the second best-selling bobblehead in the museum’s history behind the original Dr. Anthony Fauci Bobblehead. The bobblehead of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the 101-year-old basketball team chaplain at Loyola University Chicago, held the top spot before the Fauci and Sanders bobbleheads. The success of the original bobblehead led to a $10,000 donation to Meals on Wheels Vermont (AgeWellVT.org).

Political bobbleheads were some of the earliest bobbleheads available for purchase starting in 1960. John F. Kennedy was the first politician captured in bobblehead form and bobbleheads of presidents, candidates, and other political figures have remained popular ever since. Bobbleheads of all 46 United States Presidents have now been produced with the “Neglected Presidents” Series filling in the missing president bobbleheads.

“It’s been fun to see how much people have enjoyed the original Bernie Sanders Inauguration Day Mittens Bobblehead and when we started receiving requests for additional versions, we got to work,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “We think people will really enjoy these new bobbleheads featuring the viral moments.”

Bernie Sanders Inauguration Day Special Edition Bobbleheads

The National Deliman Is No Ordinary Frank

by | Oct 21, 2021 | Sniper Rants

Nat Deliman is the official spokesperson for National Deli located in Miami, Florida. The company provides a wide range of meat products that include, corned beef, pastrami, hot dogs and salami. Their official mascot is often seen at events, celebrity sightings and at the local ballpark around South Florida. Whether working the phone lines at Nat. Deli headquarters or visiting children at local hospitals, his representation of the brand is inspiring. 

I recently came across this very hard to find prototype bobblehead of Nat Deliman himself. His waist bobbles as he’s decked out in a foot long hotdog with mustard on the front. This prototype was manufactured by Alexander Global Promotions and it is currently unknown if this was ever given out or was available for purchase. We all know that within our bobblehead community that mascot bobbles are extremely collectible and this Nat Deliman is one steaming hot mascot.