Joe DiMaggio may be turning over in his grave. Thousands of fans came to Yankee Stadium Tuesday night with one thing on their mind. Not a Yankee victory against Tampa Bay in an all-important playoff chase, although that would have been a bonus. No, this crowd wanted one thing above all others: Mariano Rivera bobbleheads.
It turned into near chaos.
Thousands had begun lining up early in the day to snare one of the 18,000 that were supposed to be handed out as fans entered through the turnstiles. But there was one problem.
T
he bobbleheads hadn’t yet been delivered.
They were shipped from Seattle mechanical problems with a delivery truck caused the delay, according to a report from the New York Daily News.
Behind the scenes, one can visualize frantic phone calls. No one wanted a riot on Rivera bobblehead night.
By the time gates opened, they still hadn’t arrived so the team began passing out vouchers.
Finally, the bobbleheads bounced into the stadium. As the game went on, lines began forming on stadium concourses, stretching from the bleacher seats to the upper reaches of the park.
The whole thing turned into a story for the New York media, including the CBS affiliate.
The Yankees assured fans with vouchers they’d be able to secure a bobblehead before the night was over.
Enterprising fans pre-sold them on eBay and as the game dragged on, fans who managed to finally snare the mini Mariano went directly to the auction site, where the dolls were being offered for as much as $249 but the first few auctions which closed Tuesday night showed them settling in at around $85-95. The whole affair seems proof that the love for bobbleheads shows no sign of abating.
The Rivera bobblehead was one of several giveaways and special commemorative items being produced as the relief ace’s career winds to a close.
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