Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum coming to Milwaukee
Bobblehead dolls, especially those connected to Major League Baseball, have come a long way over the years. Far enough, in fact, that bobblehead enthusiast Phil Sklar is looking for a location in Milwaukee, Wisc to build the country’s first hall of fame and museum dedicated solely to these tiny, unique and increasingly popular collectible toys.
“We are very excited to bring such a unique attraction to the great city of Milwaukee. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum will be a fun venue for collectors, fans and visitors to experience all things bobble-related,” Sklar said.Milwaukee is such a unique city with a long sports history, making it a perfect location for collectors and fans around the world to gather for the ultimate bobblehead experience.”
Obviously, baseball has played an enormous role in the evolution of bobbleheads. According to Bobbleheads.com, they first emerged in MLB back in 1960. At that time, there was essentially one basic bobblehead model with the same “angel-like face” as they describe it. They just painted the different uniforms and logos on them to differentiate. Player-specific dolls were sold for the first time during the 1960 World Series, with stars like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Roger Maris, and Roberto Clemente each having their own. Though again, the faces were all the same.
Nowadays, Hall of Famers, All-Stars, utilitymen, managers and sometimes even broadcasters and mascots, have been immortalized with their own specific bobblehead. That’s just a product of their popularity and the amazing detail with which they are designed and presented.
Of course, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum will be about much more than baseball bobbleheads. There will be dozens of exhibits showcasing all different forms and genres. If you’re strictly looking for classic baseball bobbleheads, Marlins Park in Miami has a display that would be considered appealing.
In addition to the obvious, the planned facility will include areas for special events like weddings, birthday parties and autograph signings. The final plans also include a bobblehead-themed Bar and Grill.
All things considered, it sounds like a fantastic undertaking that will have some appeal across the board. For more information on the facility itself and how you can help donate to the effort, visit bobbleheadhall.com.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
