George makes heady debut

“It definitely seems like in small markets like ours, fans really get attached to these guys,” said Curt Nelson, the Royals‘ director of marketing. “It’s kind of a hometown thing. And it does give them an opportunity to come back to the ballpark, get a nice reception and have the fans interact with them again.”

Some bobbleheads have become so prized that fans have been known to enter a ballpark for the promotion and leave without viewing the game. And it’s no secret that many fans will sell the bobblehead for a profit to collectors. Dolls of Ripken recently distributed at Oriole Park are selling on eBay for upward of $30, while older, rarer versions of some bobbleheads are priced at more than $500.

“The bobblehead has really exploded each season to be something more than just a stadium giveaway but a collectible,” Avanessian said.