COLLECTIBLES | Give them away and watch people show up
Bob, bob, bobble along
Baseball stars make good bobbleheads, but you can be one, too.
By JAMES A. FUSSELL
Somewhere George Brett is nodding his heads - all 20,000 of them.
When you've been made into a bobblehead, that's what you do.
The Kansas City Royals are probably nodding their heads as well, in appreciation of the bang they got for their bobble. The Aug. 19 giveaway was a hit with fans, helping the last-place club draw more than 30,000 to its game with the Oakland A's. It was the largest non-opening day in more than two years.
It's no surprise Kansas Citians were attracted to a Brett bobblehead. But why would anyone want a bobblehead of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il? Maybe you should ask the head of Kansas City's growing bobblehead business, the Bobblehead LLC in Lee's Summit. They've actually made one.
Richard Lynn owns the company. Lynn, the former captain of the Missouri River Queen dinner boat, designs and sells boatloads of bobbleheads to customers throughout the world through his Web site, thebobblehead.com.
Recently he got an order from a U.S. military general for a bobblehead of the North Korean leader.
Lynn could tell you the general's name, but he'd have to shoot you.
Military bobblehead humor.
Same goes for the order he got for a bobblehead of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts. Apparently the justices of the Supreme Court enjoy trading bobbleheads.
Lynn also has taken orders for bobbleheads of radio shock jock Howard Stern, hockey star John LeClair of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Goober from "The Andy Griffith Show" and TV psychologist Dr. Phil.
He's finishing the final edit for his bobblehead encyclopedia, a book he says will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about bobbleheads.
"There's a certain segment of society that see bobbleheads as tasteless or trailer-trash chic," Lynn said. "But then there's this whole other side that see them as fun and hilarious."
Even sentimental or touching. Unlike most companies that deal only in volume, Lynn caters to anyone. Send him $410 and some photos, and he'll custom-design one of you or someone you know. Companies order them for special employees. People have even ordered bobbles of dearly departed relatives or pets.
At least one psychologist has theorized that the wobbling action of a bobblehead not only makes it seem more personal, it can actually trigger different feelings than static pictures.
What's more, Lynn's creations are far from typical. He custom-designs and builds each from a heavy resin with details and special touches not available on most other bobbleheads.
Since he started his company three years ago, word of Lynn's craftsmanship has gotten around. His company designs and manufactures countless bobbleheads and action figures for a variety of other companies. He's prevented from naming clients by nondisclosure agreements.
If you don't want custom-made bobbleheads, you can of course get them free at most Major League Baseball stadiums during promotional games.
Sarah Parker came to Kauffman Stadium from Warrensburg last month to get a George Brett bobblehead for her husband, D.J., who had the previous two in a series the Royals gave away this summer.
"He really wanted the Brett one, but he had to work," she said. "I felt bad for him. I made sure I got there really early to get him one."
Despite much care, some fans are never happy, even if they do get one.
"Its always a challenge to make the bobbleheads resemble the person," says Kim Hillix-Burgess, Royals senior director of marketing.
But what do people always say?
"That doesn't look like him!"
Fans don't know how hard they try, she said.
"For George Brett's bobblehead, we sent the sculptor 25 different pictures. ...But some people are harder to capture than others."
Bobblehead promotions still create excitement in Kansas City. But the bloom is off the bobble in some markets. The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves are not offering bobblehead giveaways this year. The Pittsburgh Pirates, by contrast, have 12.
The Royals had three.
Previous Royals bobblehead giveaways include Carlos Beltran, Mike Sweeney, Sluggerrr and a talking bobblehead of longtime Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews. They've also given out Bret Saberhagen and Mark Gubicza nonbobbling statues.
Fans love them so much that many are distraught when they miss out. They beg and wheedle. Are there any left? Can they buy one?
They'll do anything!
Sorry, Hillix-Burgess said. The Royals cannot make special provisions.
But take heart. While she made no promises, Hillix-Burgess said there was a good chance the team will give away more bobbleheads next year.
Until then?
You'll just have to jump on eBay - or send photos to Richard Lynn.
To reach James A. Fussell, feature writer, call (816) 234-4460 or send e-mail to jfussell@kcstar.com
Article retrieved from http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/15613379.htm
