Wow! There is much to say about this old order form c. 1963 or 1964 for "bobbing head statuettes"! I'm not sure of the etymological evolution that left us with "bobble heads," but while the new term is less clumsy, there is something classy about owning a "statuette." Furthermore, check out those prices! Any bobbing head only cost $1.00 and you could get an entire league set for only $9.00. Wonder what the set is worth now? You'll note that the 4 1/2" statuettes have a magnet in the base. Anyone my age knows what that was for: It allowed you to stick it on the steel dash of your all-steel, 20' long, chrome-rigged, non-seat belted American car.
These bobbing heads were made of some kind of plaster or paper mache, back in the day before resin. This explains why my Oriole bobbing head has a dent in the bill of its cap. Hmmm, and upon closer inspection, I see that he has been glued back together just below the knees, by my late father, no doubt. I can only imagine the crying I did the day that fell off the shelf.
I know I'm prejudiced, but the Oriole bobbing head does stand out, doesn't it? You also have to love the Indians and Braves bobbing heads, which are 3-D representations of the teams' respective logos. And Cincinatti's 1876 Baseball Head is a classic, too.
As you can see, Sport Products Co. not only offered team bobbing heads, but bobbing heads of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, although they could just as easily be Ray Boone of the Indians or Richard Boone of Have Gun Will Travel, for all they look like Maris and Mantle.
If anyone out there owns one of these babies or something similar, send me a photo! Heck, tell me the story of your bobbing head as I'm certainly open to guest bloggers. After all, if you still have something like this from your childhood, then you definitely have something to say about baseball, life, and other stuff, since such a keepsake represents all three subjects.
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