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Next season's roster of Dodger Stadium bobblehead giveaways includes a bit of a surprise. In addition to head bobbers honoring longtime Dodger names Sandy Koufax, Rick Monday, Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin, the team will wait all the way until Sept. 12 before honoring Magic Johnson, who showed up at Dodger Stadium last season and whose only official role is as one of the minority share holders. Despite his negligible part in the ownership, he is played up as a public face of the team so effectively that some media outlets refer to Johnson as the Dodgers owner or as the leader of the owner group. The Dodgers own press release today on the promotions calls the former NBA great "Dodger owner Earvin "Magic" Johnson." Good enough for fans!
Of course, putting Magic Johnson in Dodger blue comes as no surprise to Los Angeles artist Stuart Rapeport, who called it (above) way back in 2010.
Also next season the Dodgers will hand out bobbleheads for players Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez, plus three other honorees as yet unnamed. The Yankees will be here for Oldtimers Day.
Here's the Dodgers release on next year's promotions, with dates.
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their 2013 promotional schedule today. The list of giveaways will offer fans unique collectibles and fan favorite items. The Dodgers will give away 10 bobbleheads, including legendary Dodger Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax, Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín, Dodger owner Earvin “Magic” Johnson, current Dodger stars Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez and Dodger broadcaster Rick Monday. Johnson will also be featured in a second giveaway item, a one-of-a-kind T-shirt. Hello Kitty returns for 2013 with a fleece blanket and mini bobblehead on the promotional calendar. In addition, there will also be seven different kids’ giveaway items.
Opening Day at Dodger Stadium is Monday, April 1 at 1:10 p.m. versus the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers will celebrate Jackie Robinson night on April 15 (vs. SD) with a Robinson, Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella statue giveaway. Brand new promotional dates include a hooded sweatshirt giveaway on April 3 (vs. SF), earbuds on June 29 (vs. PHI) and an Old-Timers’ Day and giveaway item on June 8 (vs. ATL). The return of Old Timers’ Day will feature a contest between Dodgers and Yankees legends.
The 2013 promotional schedule includes fan favorites such as Friday Night Fireworks, a sports bag, Mother’s Day tote bag, beach chair, back-to-school backpack, adult replica jersey, sleeved blanket and caps. Viva Los Dodgers Days will also return in 2013. Fan Appreciation Day will conclude the regular season on September 29 and the full promotional schedule is now available at www.dodgers.com/promotions.
The Dodgers will once again offer a 10-game bobblehead mini plan, a best seller in 2012, that enables fans to purchase all 10 bobblehead promotional dates. A 15-game plan includes all 10 bobblehead games, Opening Day and four other promotional dates. The Dodgers’ 20 and 30-game Pick ‘Em plans offer fans the most flexibility and best mini plan locations. Mini plan pricing starts at $11 and complete details are available now at www.dodgers.com/miniplans.
The best way for fans to collect 2013 promotions, purchase Opening Day tickets and secure Interleague matchups against the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels is to purchase season tickets. Season ticket options, one of the best values in Los Angeles and all of sports, start as low as $5 per ticket. Complete details on 2013 season ticket pricing can be found by visiting www.dodgers.com/seasontickets.
BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAYS (April 30, May 14, May 25, June 6, June 27, July 11, July 25, August 10, August 27, September 12)
Bobbleheads of Dodgers past and present are scheduled throughout the season. The 2013 bobblehead collection includes “I See You” Hanley Ramirez on April 30 (vs. COL), Matt Kemp on May 14 (vs. WAS), Jaime Jarrín on May 25 (vs. STL), Sandy Koufax on June 27 (vs. PHI), Adrian Gonzalez on July 11 (vs. COL), Vin Scully on July 25 (vs. CIN), a “flag saving” Rick Monday on August 27 (vs. CHI) and Magic Johnson on September 12 (vs. SF). The remaining three bobbleheads will be announced later.
FRIDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS (April 5, April 26, May 10, May 24, June 7, June 28, July 12, July 26, August 9, August 23, August 30, September 13)
The popular season-long Friday Night Fireworks series will return for the 2013 season. Fans can watch the themed fireworks shows from the outfield grass after the game.
KIDS ITEMS (April 7, April 28, May 27, June 9, June 30, July 28, August 11)
There are seven Dodger kids’ items on the 2013 promotional schedule, including a kids Matt Kemp replica jersey on April 7 (vs. PIT), kids’ batting helmet on April 28 (vs. MIL), kids’ Fathead on May 27 (vs. LAA), kids’ compression sleeve on June 9 (vs. ATL), kids’ performance shirt on June 30 (vs. PHI), kids’ sunglasses on July 28 (vs. CIN) and kids back-to-school backpack on August 11 (vs. TB).
SPECIALTY ITEMS (April 3, April 15, April 17, April 27, May 7, May 12, May 28, June 4, June 8, June 11, June 25, June 29, August 13, August 31, September 28
Dodger specialty items on the 2013 promotional schedule include a hooded sweatshirt on April 3 (vs. SF), Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella statue on April 15 (vs. SD), Hello Kitty fleece blanket on April 17 (vs. SD), sports bag on April 27 (vs. MIL), T-shirt on May 7 (vs. AZ), Mother’s Day tote bag on May 12 (vs. MIA), Magic Johnson T-shirt on May 28 (vs. LAA), cap on June 4 (vs. SD), Old-Timers’ Day and giveaway item on June 8 (vs. ATL), beach chair on June 11 (vs. AZ), beach towel on June 25 (vs. SF), earbuds on June 29 (vs. PHI), cap on August 13 (vs. PHI), adult replica jersey on August 31 (vs. SD) and sleeved blanket on September 28 (vs. COL).
VIVA LOS DODGERS DAYS (April 7, April 28, May 26, June 9, June 30, July 14, July 28, August 11, August 25, September 1, September 14
Viva Los Dodgers Day, a season-long initiative, will enter its fourth year and celebrate Latino culture in Los Angeles and the legacy of Latin American Dodgers past and present throughout the 2013 season. The family-friendly pregame festival is held in lot 6 two hours prior to each Sunday's game where fans can enjoy live music and a family-friendly celebration. La Gran Fiesta – Viva Los Dodgers, the culmination of a season-long series and the Dodgers’ marquee Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, is set for Saturday, September 14 and will be held in lot 6 four hours prior to the game. Fans can get more information on “Viva Los Dodgers Days” by visiting www.dodgers.com/viva and www.losdodgers.com/viva.
2013 Promotional Schedule
4/1 Opening Day, Magnet Schedules
4/3 Hooded Sweatshirt *
4/5 Friday Night Fireworks
4/7 Kids Matt Kemp Replica Jersey ^, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run The Bases
4/15 Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe & Roy Campanella Statue *, Jackie Robinson Night
4/17 Hello Kitty Fleece Blanket
4/26 Friday Night Fireworks
4/27 Sports Bag *
4/28 Kids’ Batting Helmet ^, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases
4/30 Hanley Ramirez “I See You” Bobblehead
5/7 T-Shirt *
5/10 Friday Night Fireworks
5/11 Natural Balance Pet Foods Bark in the Park #1 °
5/12 Tote Bag *, Mother’s Day & Postgame Walk Around the Park
5/14 Matt Kemp Bobblehead
5/24 Friday Night Fireworks
5/25 Jaime Jarrín Bobblehead
5/26 MLB Network Drawstring Bag *, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases
5/27 Kids’ Fathead ^
5/28 Magic Johnson T-Shirt *
6/4 Cap #1 *
6/6 Bobblehead #4
6/7 Friday Night Fireworks
6/8 Old Timers’ Day & Item *, Old Timer’s Game
6/9 Kids’ Compression Sleeve ^, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases
6/11 Beach Chair
6/25 Beach Towel *
6/27 Sandy Koufax Bobblehead
6/28 Friday Night Fireworks
6/29 Earbuds *
6/30 Kids’ Performance Shirt ^, Viva Los Dodgers, Kids Run the Bases
7/11 Adrian Gonzalez Bobblehead
7/12 Friday Night Fireworks
7/14 Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases
7/25 Vin Scully Bobblehead
7/26 Friday Night Fireworks
7/28 Kids’ Sunglasses ^, Viva Los Dodgers, Kids Run the Bases
8/9 Friday Night Fireworks
8/10 Bobblehead #8
8/11 Kids’ Back to School Backpack ^, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases
8/13 Cap #2 *
8/23 Friday Night Fireworks
8/25 Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases
8/27 Rick Monday “Flag Saving” Bobblehead
8/30 Friday Night Fireworks
8/31 Adult Replica Jersey *
9/1 Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases
9/9 Hello Kitty Mini Bobblehead
9/12 Magic Johnson Bobblehead
9/13 Friday Night Fireworks
9/14 La Gran Fiesta – Viva Los Dodgers
9/15 Kids Run the Bases
9/27 Friday Night Fireworks
9/28 Sleeved Blanket *, Natural Balance Pet Foods Bark in the Park #2 °
9/29 Fan Appreciation Day
