People are paying exorbitant prices for free Jose Bautista bat flip bobbleheads
Toronto Blue Jays legend Jose Bautista was honoured into the team's Level of Excellence in a touching ceremony before Saturday afternoon's home game versus the Chicago Cubs, and fans lined up for hours to be among the first 20,000 through the gates for a free commemorative bobblehead doll.
The Jose Bautista Bat Flip Bobblehead Day on August 12 proved one of the most popular giveaways in team history — so much so that the free, cheaply-produced novelty toys are now fetching prices as high as $200 on resale sites like eBay.
Even before the August 12 game, fans crowded the gates as early as 7 a.m. in hopes of scoring one of the bobbleheads commemorating the slugger's iconic 2015 bat flip. Gates would not open until 1 p.m.
Talked to some folks near the front - they’ve been here since 7:30a. The line runs all the way around the ballpark. Plan accordingly pic.twitter.com/I4z3sJZC9W
— Ben Wagner (@benwag247) August 12, 2023
Only 20,000 bobbleheads were handed out among a crowd of almost 42,600 hopefuls.
it’s really the coolest bobblehead ever, a baseball moment & player that i’ll always remember 🥹 pic.twitter.com/u6vzZaEmS9
— maddie (@maddiecholette) August 13, 2023
With the supply limited and the demand high, bobbleheads began to appear for sale on eBay over an hour before the game began.
THE GAME HASN’T EVEN BEGUN LMAO pic.twitter.com/zhSEyYeYoO
— Jordan Cicchelli (@jordancicchelli) August 12, 2023
As of Monday morning, bobbleheads are listed on eBay for prices as high as $260, though typical selling prices are ranging in the $100 to $150 range.
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Jose Bautista to a one-day contract in advance of Saturday's ceremony, letting the 42-year-old former slugger officially retire as a member of the team he led through one of its most competitive eras.
Chris Young - AP/eBay
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