Bobble
Heads !

Bobblehead Fan

A Collector's Story:

When Pat Allen sits down to enjoy a baseball game on television, she's in select company. Among those in the room are Derek Jeter, Mark McGwire and Ernie Harwell. 

But if there's any cheering to be done, Allen's on her own. The others simply shake their heads. 

That's because they're part of Allen's collection of more than 60 bobblehead dolls. 

The Caledonia baseball fan adds to her assortment every season, and today it'll grow by one. The newest addition will be Dmitri Young of the Detroit Tigers, whose likeness will be given away to the first 10,000 kids 14 and younger at Comerica Park. "I'm going to make the trip to add him to my collection," said Allen, who will bring her niece along to pick up the bobblehead. 

The renewed popularity of bobbleheads doesn't necessarily add value to the older ones, according to Steve Schwanda of Baseball Card City. The real value is in the individual player. 

"Bobbleheads are worth more if you collect a certain player and add to your collection," Schwanda said. "It's worth more if the item is signed by the player." 

By the end of June, Baseball Card City is expecting the demand for baseball figures to increase as more fans begin collecting the replicas. Allen started her collection three years ago when she received her first one -- Cal Ripken's commemorative bobblehead for his "Ironman" streak. But it's Harry Caray who tops her list of favorites. 

Her collection of baseball items also includes trivia books and memorabilia and other items. 

"Baseball for me is so American," she said. "It's the boys of summer. I love the season and there is just something like being at a ballpark ... there isn't anything like it." 

Excerpted from: www.mlive.com