New Addition - Mini Joe Mauer Big Head

 One of my focuses lately has been on retail bobbleheads.  Its hard to know what retail bobbleheads were available 15-20 years ago when all of this took off.  Once it did, retail vendors, namely Forever Collectibles (FOCO) grabbed the market and hasn't looked back.  Here's a Mauer mini Big Head that I hadn't known about til I saw it.  

When it comes to retail bobbleheads in present day, they are fairly easy to get (some are quite limited, but you can find them).  Back then I'm unsure how retail bobbleheads hit the market as websites were fairly new at the time and the online space was just getting started in the collecting world.  

But a fun new add to the collection! 

La Tortuga gets a Bobble....shell!

One of the most popular Twins players now has a bobble, ahem, shell.  Not a bobblehead, but a bobble-shell.  Willians Astudillo, aka, La Tortuga, is featured by the Twins former affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings.  They planned to give this one out during the COVID-halted 2020 season.  I was fortunate enough to secure one for my collection.  

David Backes Bobblehead Minnesota State Mankato

 Here's another new addition of mine - former standout David Backes.  The Mavericks gave this out earlier this year and I've been looking for it since.  Mankato bobbleheads are pretty scarce to start with because their fans love to keep the giveaways!  Definitely am pumped to add this one!  

President James A Garfield isn't from Minnesota.  But the Julian H Sleeper House did a bobblehead of him, when a buddy of mine sent me the picture, of course I said yeah, I'd like to add that to my collection.  These random "Minnesota" bobbleheads always get me.  Until then, I had no idea there was any bobblehead like this!  Another one that I'm thrilled with (great detail too).  

New Addition - Stanger (Southwest State University)

Another new addition of mine is Stanger from Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota.  This is actually from several years ago (most likely mid 2000s) and Southwest just came out with another one in the past year as updated version to this.  Happy that I have both of them now! 

New Addition - Mr Shucks

I love mascots, especially when they are Minnesota mascots or mascots of Minnesota affiliated teams.  Here's one of the favorites - Mr Shucks from the Cedar Rapids Kernels!  He is part of a book club for kids and a promo for the club is a Mr Shucks bobblehead, I'm sure there aren't a ton of these but luckily I was able to add one to the collection recently! 

New Addition - Torii Hunter Gold Glove

I've been looking for this Torii bobblehead for quite some time!  About a year ago I thought I had a lead on it, it quickly faded and I kept looking.  A few other collectors knew I was looking for it and luckily was able to get it thru one of them.  I don't know a ton about it, there is a "gold glove" set that Forever Collectibles did - I believe the set consists of 9 or 10 bobbleheads total, but the one I really wanted was Torii.  It's about 9 inches tall and the detail is amazing!!  Happy to finally add this one to the collection!

New Addition - Barry - Willmar Stingers

Another new addition of mine, from the Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League!  I wasn't expecting the size of this bobble, the entire thing is just as tall as a normal bobblehead!  Great deal and several other teams are doing or have done similar looking bobbleheads and vehicles where the plaque sponsor is most likely a car dealership!  

New Addition - Kirby Puckett Bobblehead

I just blogged about this bobblehead, but I received it in the mail and needed to do my own pictures and a new add post! This is the latest SGA bobble from the Toledo Mud Hens!  Kirby played with them for a short period of time, but since he's one of the best ever, a bobblehead had to be made!  It's a very nice bobblehead, done by AGP.  It exceeds my expectations and when it comes to Puckett, the bar is set high! 

New Addition - Goldberg Bonding Company

Here's a recent addition to my Minnesota collection - Goldberg Bonding Company (I believe they are now called Goldberg Bail Bonds).  It's always fun when finding a new bobblehead like this!!

New Add - Goldy Graduate

Obviously I love Goldy bobbleheads...I went to school at the University of Minnesota and a Goldy bobblehead was what started this crazy passion/obsession.  One of the latest to be produced is a Goldy Graduate bobble.  Great detail on this one and the cap/gown and base "M" make it really cool! 

New Addition - Josh Harding Bobblehead

Here's on my newest additions.  Back in 2015, the Regina Pats of the WHL had a Josh Harding bobblehead night and the proceeds went to Harding's Hope (Josh's charity).  With a $5 donation (minimum) you scored a Harding bobblehead.  Needless to say, they went quick.  I've known about this bobblehead for a couple years.  In talking to some collectors from north of the border, the common theme was "you'll never find it."  I'm not one to lose hope very easily so I kept looking.  I reached out to a couple people and through one of them, I got lucky...super lucky.  It's an amazing bobblehead, plenty of detail!

New Add - Zach Johnson (Cedar Rapids Kernels)

Here's another new addition of mine, Zach Johnson from the Cedar Rapids Kernels.  I don't have a ton of golfers, but this one fits my collection as its from a Twins affiliate (granted, the giveaway happened around 2010 or earlier, when they weren't the affiliate).  It's a pretty hard to find bobble! 

New Addition - Royce Lewis Bobblehead

This one was unveiled in my last sneak peek.  As usual, the Kernels have done a great job on another bobblehead!  It was a pretty successful night as well!  Lewis is a stud in the making and this will hopefully be his first of several Twins (or their affiliate) bobbles!

New Add - Minnesota North Stars Retro

I hadn't seen this one before I stumbled across it.  Obviously its a retail version as several of these "retro" or "vintage" bobbleheads have been produced the last several years.  From what I know, its only the 2nd North Stars bobblehead.  The first is JP Parise, click the link for more.  It's a perfect fit for my collection and I certainly wish the Wild would do some sort of North Stars celebration of former fan favorites who wore the sweater!  For now, I'll settle for these 2! 

New Add - Ringo

Here's another new addition to my collection.  Ringo from the now defunct, Alexandria Beetles (of the Northwoods League).  There are 2 versions of this one, I believe this is the retail version the club sold, while the other version, although almost exactly the same has 1 slight difference.  Instead of saying "Ringo" on the base, it displays the sponsors name.  I had been searching for this one a long time.  I honestly didn't think it would take me this long to find it.  Typically the retail versions are quite a bit easier to find because there are more of them.  Either way, I'm definitely happy to add this one! 

New Addition - Alex Stalock - Iowa Wild

A couple weeks ago the Iowa Wild did their second giveaway of the season (read about the first one here).  This time around, its of local netminder Alex Stalock.  I'm a huge fan of goaltender bobbleheads, mainly because of the detail that goes into them.  This is an absolute...ahem...breakaway (see what I did there?!)!  From the form, to the sweater, and obviously the mask (which is removable) the marketing team nailed it.  

New Add - Gustav Oloffson - Iowa Wild

Back in January the Iowa Wild gave away Gustav Oloffson bobbleheads to the first 1000 fans through the gates.  These aren't regular sized bobbles but aren't minis either, they are a nice in between that a ton of minor league or affiliated teams do.  Even tho they are smaller, there is plenty of detail and that red sweater is sure to stand out! 

New Addition - Matt Dumba Red Deer Rebels Bobblehead

Another recent addition of mine, thanks to an awesome guy north of the border is this Matt Dumba SGA bobblehead!  It comes from the Red Deer Rebels (where Dumba played for a couple seasons) and was a giveaway in January.  Obviously since Matt plays for the Wild, this was a must have for my collection.  I'm so happy I was able to connect with a new Canadian friend.  

New Add - Neal Broten Team USA Prototype

Here's another new addition of mine and another prototype, Neal Broten in his Team USA gear representing the Miracle on Ice.  It's not the most wanted Broten I have on my want list, but its a very sweet bobblehead and possibly the only 1 in existence.  Of course the Broten on the top of my list is the Gopher version, however, the head of this one and that one appear to be the same.  Perhaps one day I'll find the Gopher version!