Latest news with #bobblehead
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Michigan Panthers to give away bobbleheads of Lions kicker Jake Bates
The Michigan Panthers will compete in their final home game this season with a bobblehead giveaway featuring Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates. On May 31, the Panthers will play the Houston Roughnecks at Ford Field. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. The team said the first 2,000 fans at Ford Field will get a bobblehead. The Panthers clinched a spot in the USFL Conference Championship for the second year. They will take on the Birmingham Stallions on June 8 at Protective Stadium in Alabama in the conference finals. The game winner will play the D.C. Defenders or St. Louis Battlehawks in the championship on June 14. The Panthers lost to the Stallions in the 2024 conference finals. The Stallions would go on to win the championship against the San Antonio Brahmas. Bates played one season with the Panthers before he signed a two-year contract with the Lions. He made 26 of his 29 field goal attempts and 64 of the 67 extra point attempts in the Lions' 2024 season. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month and NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for weeks 7 and 10.
New York Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Shohei Ohtani adds to special subset of collectibles by striking out against another position player
The Shohei Ohtani 50/50 bobblehead given away at Dodger Stadium on Thursday was highly coveted by fans in attendance, but it wasn't the night's most valuable piece of Ohtani memorabilia. With the Dodgers up 16-2 after seven and a half innings, the battered Athletics sent backup catcher Jhonny Pereda to the mound to pitch the bottom of the 8th. After giving up three straight hits to begin his outing, Ohtani stepped up to the plate. Ohtani had already homered twice in the game, giving him 15 for the season and a share of the Major League lead with Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber. Given his opposition, a third seemed likely. Advertisement Pereda got Ohtani to a 1-2 count with four pitches that each floated in at less than 70 MPH, then he dug deep and delivered an 89 MPH fastball above the strike zone that Ohtani tipped into the catcher's glove. Pereda's first out of the night: A strikeout against the mighty Ohtani. Pereda initially played it cool after notching the strikeout, but before long he couldn't fight the grin from spreading across his face and tossed the ball to the dugout so it could be authenticated by an MLB official and tucked away for safekeeping. Position player Jhonny Pereda broke out the heat to strikeout Ohtani … and kept the ball 😂 — MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2025 In his one inning of work, Pereda gave up four hits, a walk, and three earned runs, but he managed to strike out who he later said was 'the only batter I wanted to face.' Following the game, he showed off his prized possession now in a plastic case labeled 'OHTANI STRIKEOUT MAY 15, 2025,' where it will likely remain for years to come. 'I was scared if he hit the ball to the middle, it was going to kill me,' Pereda said, according to Jhonny Pereda said Shohei Ohtani was 'the only batter I want to face.' And he was just glad Ohtani didn't hit the ball back up the middle because if he did, 'it's going to kill me.' What a night for the backup catcher. — Jacob Gurvis (@jacobgurvis) May 16, 2025 Pereda isn't the only position player to take home an Ohtani strikeout ball, though. In 2022, then Detroit Tigers infielder Kody Clemens notched his first career strikeout against Ohtani, who was then with the Los Angeles Angels. Clemens couldn't help but show his excitement when he froze Ohtani with his devastating 68 MPH pitch, immediately pumping his fist and smiling ear to ear as he too tossed the ball to the dugout for authentication and safekeeping. Clemens was also brave enough to ask Ohtani to sign the ball, which he did, even adding an inscription: 'What a nasty pitch!' Kody Clemens just received his Shohei Ohtani strikeout ball from last night – autographed by the Angels superstar with the inscription: 'What a nasty pitch!' 📸 KodyClemens on Instagram — Adrian Garro (@adriangarro) September 6, 2022 Ohtani's 50th home run ball in 2024 became the most valuable baseball of all time when it sold for $4.392 million. Both of these strikeout balls would likely command significant value — especially given the autograph and inscription on Clemens' (plus the fact that it made him and dad Roger the all-time father-son strikeout leaders) — but would probably fall short of that record. To Pereda and Clemens they're priceless, though. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Pirates handing out Mac Miller bobbleheads at July game
The Pirates are giving away Mac Miller bobbleheads during a game in July, honoring the late rapper and his Pittsburgh roots. The Pirates on Thursday posted a montage video to social media teasing the bobblehead giveaway, "This is for you, Malcom." In the video, Pirates fans speak over one another as they describe the impact Mac Miller had on their life. The video strings together images of places like Blue Slide Park, Jerry's Records and Frick Park Market before revealing a bobblehead Miller wearing a Pirates jersey and flashing his "most dope" knuckle tattoo. This is for you, Malcolm. 🕊️ — Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 15, 2025 "He taught me how to be comfortable in my own skin," one Pirates fan says, before another says, "He really did it on his own, and that's the Pittsburgh way." One fan says, "He represented us, man. He was the culture." The video also features Pirates star Andrew McCutchen saying, "He talks about Clemente and the Pirates, you know, he's just a Pittsburgh guy through and through, that's what made people love him so much." Miller, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh's Point Breeze neighborhood, was 26 when he died from an accidental overdose in 2018. When is the Mac Miller bobblehead giveaway? The bobbleheads will be handed out during the third annual Yinzerpalooza weekend, which celebrates all things Pittsburgh. The Pirates' website says the first 20,000 fans at the White Sox game on July 19 at 6:40 p.m. will get to take home a bobblehead. Before the game, there will be a block party on Federal Street with live music, drinks from Wigle Whiskey and more. It'll be the Pirates' second bobblehead giveaway of the season. The Paul Skenes bobblehead giveaway last month was so popular that the team has promised vouchers to everyone at PNC Park. Last year at Yinzerpalooza, the Pirates handed out Wiz Khalifa bobbleheads.
