Bobbing heads that shouldn't exist...BUT DO!!
 

I have four bobbing head dolls in my Giants collection that are uncatalogued. The story I have heard is that the dolls were made by Lego, a Swiss firm, and then sent to Japan for paint and assembly. I am convinced my "phantom" nodders are the result of breakage of heads and bodies and were put together IN JAPAN from leftover pieces and parts. In the photos below, the hybrid dolls are in the center, flanked by catalogued dolls from whence the parts came.

A green square base, made from a white base, embossed "GIANTS" body and color base head. Square bases were never green and green bases were always round.

The one I just picked up with a green or gold base head and a Seattle Raniers body. The Tacoma doll shown has an embossed body, the Seattle does not. The sleeves match up to the Seattle doll, as well. The PCL nodders all have the lower glove.

A green round base with a white base head. This cap sideways head should only appear on the white bases. I have seen this same nodder with a bat, intead of the ball and glove.

A green base body with the color base head with the embossed hat.

Do you other bobbing head guys have any amalgamations to show???

I have a Green square base Minnesota Twins nodder. The green square bases were made from the left over white square bases. The green square bases are pretty difficult to find but not impossible. There are numerous variations in the early nodders. For example, with the Minnesota Twins mini's there are at least 32 different variations.

32? :eek:

Does your green square base have a white base head?

Great stuff...

Regarding the Minis... I've always wondered why many teams have both a Regular and a Moonface variation. Did they intend to offer a variety, or did the regular versions just run out in some cases? The Mascot Head Minis only came in one style, so that makes it even more mysterious.

And why do only the Tigers and Indians Minis have a green base variation? Anybody know the reason? Many many mysteries when it comes to these Dolls.

I used to love the articles (and book) that Tim Hunter wrote on nodders back in the day. What ever happened to him?

Hmmm...green base mini's? Those would be hard to explain. Then again, the original poster showed green base Mays and Clemente. I'm pretty sure NONE of those exist, but who knows?

This thread didn't get much traction the first time around, but I just picked up another "uncatalogued" bobber. The center guy in the photo; what I would have called a "white base head on a green base body." I just noticed something, though...

My traditional "catalogued" white base dolls both have blue in the eyes, reddish hair and a black button on their caps. My two "uncatalogued" dolls have solid black pupils, dark brown hair and orange buttons on their caps.

Maybe these "WEREN'T" a marriage of mismatched parts but were an actual short production run made between the traditional white and green base nodders :confused:

Rob, do you know where I can get more info on bobble-heads? I have 3 gold base ones from my childhood, and would like to find out more, and possible get a few more from that era. Would be interested in finding a checklist or some documentation.

Maybe there is something more recent now.... but Tim Hunter's Book was a pretty good guide with lots of valuable info. It was the "Go To Guide" for many years. Not sure of the exact title, but am sure someone here will know.

Thanks Mark, you got me in the ballpark. Found Bobbing Head Dolls: 1960-2000 by Tim Hunter on Amazon. Looks like it's out of print, but they have several used copies. Looks like I'll pick one up soon.

You can't beat this price! This one was written by Lou Crisione - a good guy and Net54 member.

https://www.hpb.com/products/warman-...-9780896892507

I'll see if Tim Hunter's book is still out there. I'm afaid it may have gone the way of the Malta bat book and Muchinsky pin book i.e. HTF and expensive.

totally wrong on the Tim Hunter book :rolleyes:

https://www.amazon.com/Bobbing-Head-.../dp/0873418026

Thanks Rob. Looks like I can pick up both on Amazon fairly cheap and will be a good addition to my baseball and collecting library.

I have Lou's book and I can attest that its a great one. been meaning to grab Tim's book and will do so soon.

Mike