Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today’s games, while catching you up on fun and interesting stories you might have missed. Thanks for being here.
If you are joining us today from your desk at your home or work office and there is a decade-old bobblehead staring back at you, then please do read on. And if you are sitting at an unfortunately bobblehead-less desk, do not despair. You should also read on, because there are plenty of chances to catch up!
Since everybody loves a ballpark giveaway – and that means much more than just bobbleheads, by the way – our 30 beat reporters pored over the calendar and came up with the best promotion for each team this season. Feel free to parse through the list on your own to find your favorite team, but for any roving baseball fans out there, we figured we’d curate the selections even further into these very scientific categories:
Best bobblehead giveaway:
It’s nearly impossible to choose just one, but the Marvel-Orioles crossover gets the nod for this Cal Ripken Jr. Iron Man bobblehead, which coincides with Marvel Day at Camden Yards on June 28. It features baseball’s Iron Man in the superhero’s signature suit, with the helmet at his feet.
Most devious giveaway:
This is a feat of creativity (and a little bit of shade) by the Astros, who are giving out Jose Altuve socks when they play the Padres on Sunday. You might remember that last year, against the Padres, Altuve famously took off his cleat and sock to show the umpire he really had fouled a ball off his foot. Now nobody need be barefoot at the ballpark.
Giveaway with the most utility:
You might not have known that pickleball, the sport that has been making quite the racket in recent years, originated not far from T-Mobile Park, on Bainbridge Island. So the Mariners are honoring those local roots with a pickleball paddle promotion on Aug. 24.
Most Milwaukee giveaway:
The card game Cribbage is huge in Wisconsin, and it has quite a few fans in the Brewers’ clubhouse. Link up with friends and family at American Family Field on May 17 for the chance to snag a Cribbage board featuring the Brewers’ famous racing sausages.
Most fashionable giveaway:
It’s a large-brim straw Cardinals hat, and you can complete the outfit with a matching shirt by purchasing a Margaritaville Night theme ticket for May 23. Don’t waste away this opportunity.
— Scott Chiusano
