In a recent chat with Gao Sheng, the president of the Chinese American Sports Association, we explored his thrilling experience at the Los Angeles Dodgers game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 28. Gao was among the fortunate fans who received a special Shohei Ohtani bobblehead featuring the star player alongside his dog, Decoy.
The atmosphere was electric as the Dodgers promised the collectible bobblehead to the first 40,000 fans entering the stadium. Gao described the dedication of fans lining up outside the venue a remarkable seven hours before the game, all eager to snag this sought-after item. Within that crowd, around 2,000 limited edition gold bobbleheads caught the spotlight, with some already hitting eBay listings for as much as $17,000.
As part of Major League Baseball’s tradition, teams often host “bobblehead days,” and these limited-edition pieces quickly become prized collectibles. Although this wasn’t the Dodgers’ first Ohtani bobblehead giveaway, the edition featuring Ohtani with Decoy sparked even greater interest this time around.
As the game approached, news outlets such as ABC7 and NBCLA sent helicopters to capture aerial shots of the extensive lines wrapping around the stadium. Gao remarked that despite attending several Dodgers games this year, he had never witnessed such a large crowd clamoring for bobbleheads.
Once fans got inside, the bobbleheads were distributed randomly, and by chance, Gao walked away with the coveted gold version, much to the amazement of those around him. Many fellow fans approached him for photos and mentioned the eye-popping resale prices, which began in the thousands.
Interestingly, Gao noticed that some attendees seemed primarily focused on the bobblehead giveaway, with many leaving before the game had even hit the half-hour mark. He joked that the allure of the Ohtani bobblehead might have eclipsed the game itself, though for him, scoring the gold version was an unexpected treat in addition to enjoying the match.
Having purchased his ticket early for about $130, Gao managed to land a seat on the first level, commenting on the game’s high demand and rapidly sold-out tickets. Resale prices for second-level seats had skyrocketed to around $400.
With an impressive attendance of 53,290 fans, Ohtani demonstrated his talent by hitting his 42nd home run of the season, propelling the Dodgers to a 6-4 victory over the Orioles. This event not only showcased the action on the field but also underlined the vibrant culture of collectibles within the baseball community.
