Bobble
Heads !

Baseball Fan Gets His Own Bobblehead

Sholty, an unemployed 40-year-old from Mapleton, won a drawing at a game last season to be the fan whose image adorned 2,500 bobbleheads.

He also threw out a pitch prior to the game, letting his head bobble before delivering to the plate. Sholty signed autographs at the main gate early in the game.

"I was in the restroom and I heard the number announced," Sholty said of last year's drawing. "I checked with the Chiefs to make sure it was my number, and they said, 'You're going to be a bobblehead next year.' I said, 'What? Is there a camera on me?' "

Sholty brought about 200 friends and family to Friday's game. He also received 100 bobbleheads to keep for himself.

The longtime fan, who began watching baseball in Peoria with the Suns in 1983, will add the bobblehead dolls to a collection that includes dozens of balls he's caught during batting practice and games. He also owns the distinction of buying the first beer at O'Brien Field when the ballpark opened last season.

- P.J. Star.com (July 27, 2003)
www.pjstar.com/sports/ori/g162159a.html