Bobbleheads are always a fan-favorite giveaway across MLB, and the Los Angeles Dodgers have made them a significant part of their annual promotional schedule at Dodger Stadium.
Among the bobblehead giveaways for the 2024 season have been star newcomers, such as Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Teoscar Hernández, while other Dodgers also received their first one after being with the club in previous seasons, including Brusdar Graterol.
Another player who received his first Dodgers bobblehead was Evan Phillips, who has been one of their key relievers over the past few years after joining them late in the 2021 season.
Earlier this season, Phillips told DodgerBlue.com he was hopeful the Dodgers would announce a bobblehead for him, and that finally came to fruition with the team making Sept. 7 the game for Evan Phillips bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium.
“They let me know in the early parts of the year that they were trying to schedule one,” Phillips told DodgerBlue.com. “We didn’t have the date figured out for a while, but sometime in the past couple of months, I found out the date and all that. So I was able to coordinate some family to get out here and enjoy this special day.
“They’re all so excited to be here tonight. And my mom, she made a comment before I left, she said it’s a proud moment for her. I’m excited too, but we still have to play tonight, so trying not to let that distract from what we have going on tonight as well.”
Every time there’s a bobblehead giveaway, players find them at their locker when they arrive at the stadium. Phillips has been collecting and displaying those bobbleheads in the top part of his locker and recently added a shelf to make room for all of them to be displayed.
Phillips did that as a way to honor his teammates, and he’s the only player in the Dodgers clubhouse with all of them displayed. He now has himself placed next to the rest of his teammates who have received the honor.
“Yeah, that’s the one kind of tripping me up today, seeing my my face in everybody’s locker today,” Phillips said. “I’m sure everybody kind of goes through that for the first time when they get their bobblehead. But it’s just something to celebrate my time here with the Dodgers so far.
“So certainly, it’s an honor to have one. But like I said, it’s super special for my family, and I’m sure they feel good about it as well.”
When players have their bobblehead night, they are also given “a bunch” of extras for their friends and family, and that’s certainly going to prove useful for Phillips.
“It’s funny. I think the Dodgers sent out a marketing email saying, upcoming game Evan Phillips bobblehead and I had like five friends texting me simultaneously,” Phillips recalled. “They all got the email and said, ‘Hey, I need one. Hey, I need one.’ I said of course, without a doubt, I’ll make it happen.”
Prior to the game, Phillips had his family on the field with him to call out the ceremonial “It’s time for Dodger baseball” and his wife Liz and son Beau threw out the first pitch to him.
Silver Evan Phillips bobblehead
When Phillips went into the Dodgers clubhouse on the day of his bobblehead giveaway, he didn’t find one placed in his locker. Some of his teammates instead decided to take Phillips’ bobblehead and give it a silver paint job, reminiscent of the limited edition gold Ohtani and Decoy bobbleheads.
When Phillips first picked it up, the coat of paint was still fresh, and it led to the reliever getting silver on his fingers.
“Yeah, I think someone kind of played a joke on me, because Shohei had the gold edition,” Phillips said. “I know who it was, too. I don’t want to name names, but still, it’s my version of one of one.”
Anthony Banda, who interjected while Phillips was talking to ask, “What’s his name?” was in on the prank.
“He was setting me up for it earlier,” Phillips said of Banda. “But yeah, so now I’ve got my special edition.”
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
