Las Vegas Weekly

July 7, 2009 · 1:09 PM

Where would an Oscar Goodman bobblehead doll rank on your list?

By Ryan Greene

The Goodman bobblehead doll. We prefer the mayor in fur, thank you very much.

As often as minor league baseball rosters can change, taking advantage of the insanely popular bobblehead doll promotion takes some added creativity below the major league level.

The Las Vegas 51s have decided to honor Mayor Oscar Goodman with another figurine of his own.

A week from Saturday -- July 18 -- the first 2,500 fans in attendance at Cashman Field will receive a bobblehead featuring Mayor Goodman in a snazzy three-button jacket with a sharp blue tie, flanked by a Vegas showgirl.

This got me thinking, especially as I reflected on the modest-yet-unique bobblehead collection on my desk. For reference, it includes ... and I'm not making this up ...

--Rainn Wilson -- a.k.a. Dwight Schrute from The Office.

--Kansas City Royals third basemen George Brett (former) and Alex Gordon (current ... sort of).

--Pittsburgh Pirates lefty Tom Gorzelanny (we'll re-visit this one in a moment).

--The King ... from the Burger King commercials ... Thanks to BK in rural Nebraska.

--Funny Cide. Yes, a race horse.

That said, lets interact.

Two questions: 1) What's your favorite bobblehead doll in your possession, and 2) if you could have one other, which would it be?

My answers ...

Tom Gorzelanny bobblehead doll.

Tom Gorzelanny bobblehead doll

1) Gorzelanny.

First off, I saw him pitch when we were both students at the University of Kansas. He left the KU program, went to a juco back home in suburban Chicago, and a year later re-emerged as a second round pick of the Pirates.

He had some success upon getting called up -- going 14-10 in 2007 with a 3.88 ERA on a bad squad. He could have won 20 games with either some more run support or something that resembled a major league bullpen.

Anyways, he's dealt with injuries ever since and is trying to find the groove again. But in 2008, the Pirates honored him with a bobblehead day of his own at PNC Park.

However, the figurine spread like wildfire on the blogosphere, since instead of depicting the index finger on his right hand sticking out atop the palm of the glove on his right hand, it was, well, 'the bird.' It's been up for much debate, but close looks at the knuckles on the doll on my desk have led everyone who's seen it to agree that it's the middle finger.

The real question: Who lost their job over that one?

Rick Vaughn bobblehead doll

2) Rick 'Wild Thing' Vaughn.

Rick Vaughn bobblehead doll.

Yes, the Cleveland Indians, trying to give their fans something to get excited about following an über-slow start to the 2009 season, had a bobblehead night for a fictional character.

Vaughn was played by Charlie Sheen in Major League and Major League II. Remember? He could throw triple-digit smoke in the first movie, then had to re-discover it at the end of the sequel after his smokin' hot agent got in his head for the first 80 minutes of the flick, give or take a few.

Either way, unique bobblehead. It's got the glasses and all.

Just as unique as an Oscar Goodman figurine, just with a few more pop culture references attached to it ... such as "Juuuuuust a bit outside!"

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