There have been a number of columns written about my quest for Twins’ bobbleheads. In fact, they even form a section in my book. Maybe too many. However, as I got older, the fires that drove me to spend a day and hundred dollars for Kay and I to buy tickets, drive to the Cities, wait in line for two hours, have died down. Not only that, the bobbleheads were not appreciating in value.
They were for our grandchildren to maybe help a little in future school expenses. In comparing the rise in college expenses with the rise in bobblehead value, the bobbleheads lagged far behind. If I sold all the bobbleheads Kay and I collected, they might pay for a week of school. However, who knows what might happen in the future? There are still a great many bobblehead and Twins’ memorabilia collectors and prices may increase substantially in the years to come. And much like going to auctions and garage sales, the "thrill of the hunt" was still there. So when a good friend mentioned that the Twins were only having one bobblehead promotion this year, I was intrigued.
The Twins’ bobblehead was to have two figures on it: Kent Hrbek tagging Ron Gant out at first base during the ‘91 World Series. A controversial play. The last championship of any sort by a Minnesota big league team. Here was a chance to relive some of the glory of long past years.
The minute tickets became available, my friend was on the phone. Tickets sold fast and we were lucky to get four seats together. High up, but right above home plate.
A discussion was held as to what time we should leave Preston. We decided that 11 a.m. would be best. The gates open at 5 for a 7 p.m. game. In the past if you arrived two hours before the gates opened, you stood a very good chance of getting a bobblehead. Not assured, but very likely. Our thinking was that this was an unusual bobblehead and the only one this year. That collectors would be out in droves. We decided that arriving three hours before the gates opened would be prudent. We were going to leave at 11 a.m., stopping in Rochester to pick up a friend and head north with a quick stop at McDonald’s in Cannon Falls for lunch.
The day came and, right after breakfast, I went to where I had put the tickets. They weren’t there! I searched frantically around my office as did Kay. No tickets. I didn’t know what to do. My friend was due to arrive shortly and I didn’t have my tickets. Decided to call the Twins, hoping they would take pity on a poor old dumb guy. I called the Twins’ ticket office and got Marge. She was very understanding and said the Twins would print three more tickets and when I came I could pick them up at the ticket window. What a relief! It cost five dollars a ticket, but well worth it. We got off to a late start because of the lost tickets, stopped in Rochester and finally were on our way.
We weren’t sure of the best way to the stadium, but decided on 94 from St. Paul even though two lanes were closed, feeling that we were outside the rush hour times. Our friend had the route and parking ramp scoped out. He did a good job and we arrived at the stadium about 2:15. We looked at the long lines and hoped that we would pick the shortest.
Next week: Did we get the tickets and, more importantly, did we get there in time for the bobbleheads?
