Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani had a memorable bobblehead night recently, where fans lined up to get their hands on a piece of memorabilia featuring the superstar and his dog, Decoy. The giveaway included rare ‘gold’ bobbleheads, with only a few lucky fans receiving them.
During the event, veteran Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly made headlines when he exchanged one of his used gloves for a gold Shohei Ohtani bobblehead with a fan. However, his teammate Blake Treinen revealed that the Dodgers players had already received gold bobbleheads in their lockers, making Kelly’s exchange unnecessary.
The Dodgers reportedly distributed 40,000 regular bobbleheads along with 2000 special gold Shohei and Decoy bobbleheads. Some of the gold bobbleheads were later seen for sale at staggering prices, with some reaching up to $18,000.
Treinen found the incident amusing but pointed out that the exchange was not worth it as a pitcher’s glove holds sentimental value. He emphasized the importance of gloves to players and expressed surprise at fans not understanding their significance.
In a game against the Los Angeles Angels, where Ohtani returned to Anaheim for the first time since his offseason move, Treinen pitched a hitless inning out of the bullpen to help the Dodgers secure a 6-2 victory.
Overall, while Joe Kelly’s gesture was well-intentioned, it sparked a viral moment that could have been avoided. The value of the gold bobbleheads and the sentiment attached to a pitcher’s glove made the exchange seem unnecessary in hindsight. Despite the humorous nature of the incident, it served as a reminder of the unique bond players have with their equipment on the field.
In conclusion, the bobblehead night featuring Shohei Ohtani was a memorable event for fans and players alike, with the unexpected exchange adding an extra layer of excitement to the evening.
