Information on Vintage Baseball Bobbleheads

When the first baseball bobbleheads were issued, baseball was truly America's pastime.

Bobbie Enterprises of Oceanside, New York, first distributed baseball bobbleheads in the early 1960s. While one may not think of them as valuable collectibles at first, many are worth more than most baseball cards of the era. Those in good condition are difficult to find, as the Japanese-made dolls were composed of papier-mache or ceramics. This made them easily breakable in the hands of children.

The First Edition

Baseball bobbleheads were first issued in 1960. Twelve Major League teams were represented, along with three Pacific Coast League teams. Most of the dolls sported a smiling boy in uniform, standing on a base that was usually painted to match the outfit. Two teams, the Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates, had mascots for heads rather than children. It is interesting to note that the New York Mets were part of this series, before the franchise started play. The Minnesota Twins are the most common from this set, with the Washington Senators being the most rare. A Senators bobblehead can collect upward to $1,500.

The White Base Series

The first all-inclusive series of teams was issued from 1961 to 1963. Originally selling for $1, they stood a little over 7 inches tall, mostly on white bases. Nearly half the teams had the mascot heads, and the Houston Colt .45's bobblehead was donning a cowboy hat. Four individual players were introduced as well: Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays and Roger Maris. Mantle and Clemente bobbleheads in good condition have fetched over $1,000.

Mini-Bobbleheads

For two years, 1961 and 1962, pint-sized models were offered. At 4 1/2 inches in height, most came with a magnetic bottom, making them popular for the dashboards of automobiles. All the Major League teams were available, but only Mantle and Maris were represented as players. Three very rare bobbleheads are part of this set: an Anaheim (rather than Los Angeles) Angels model; a Minneapolis (rather than Minnesota) Twins character; and a boy-faced Baltimore Orioles doll, which can go for $2,000.

The Green Round Base Series

Bobbleheads released between 1963 and 1965 stood on round green bases. This distinguishes them from some earlier models erected on square green bases. Some dolls in this series may have "1962" stamped on the bottom, but weren't available to the public until 1963. Also on the bottom may appear a Japanese patent number, only seen in this issue. Although the price range for this group tends to be lower, collectors often regard this series as having the highest quality of manufacture.

Breaking the Color Line

Until 1963, all team bobbleheads depicted Caucasian boys. From 1963 to 1965 a "Black Face" series was released. Sixteen teams were represented with two dolls, one with a smiling face and another with a serious expression. Issued in limited quantities, these bobbleheads are among the most collectible. A Houston Astros' bobbing head in this release can sell for the princely sum of $10,000, with a Yankees' doll valued around $3,000.

The Gold Base Series

Baseball bobbleheads issued from 1966 to 1971 were painted with gold bases. Composed of cheaper materials, they are of lower quality than those made previously. This series saw a lot of changes, as the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland and new teams like the Montreal Expos and Milwaukee Brewers appeared. This set is comprised of 27 teams and one individual player, Willie Mays.

References

• "Black Face" Series
• Inside The Park Collectibles
• White Base Series Ad

Resources

• Collectors Weekly