LOS ANGELES — Fans were spotted lining up outside Dodger Stadium as early as 9 a.m. PT on Wednesday, 10 hours before the first pitch of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the Baltimore Orioles. By 2:30 p.m., the line had become so long, the demand to enter so high, that parking gates were practically forced to open — two hours before they normally would for a 7:10 first pitch.
The reason, of course: Shohei Ohtani. More specifically, a Shohei Ohtani bobblehead, the second such giveaway this season. Even more specifically, a bobblehead depicting Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Decoy, who has built a cult following since first revealing himself to the public during last year’s MVP announcement on MLB Network.
The Dodgers said only the first 40,000 fans — for a stadium with a capacity of about 56,000 — will get one. And a very limited number of them are gold, ratcheting the demand — not to mention the potential value — even further.
Dodgers fans rushed into the ballpark when the parking lot gates first opened at 2:30 p.m. An hour later, there were thousands of fans waiting outside each of the entry gates. They were allowed in at 4:30, 40 minutes earlier than usual, and got the rare opportunity to watch Ohtani throw a bullpen session by cramming the edges of the left-field bleachers.
“It’s unbelievable,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said during his pregame availability a little after 4. “I don’t know if it was Shohei or Decoy or a combo, but man, there’s a high demand for these dang bobbleheads. It took me forever to get inside Dodger Stadium. There’s a long line, so if you plan on coming you better have already left.”