Call them nodders, call them bobbleheads, even call them wobblers. Whatever you call them, though, the vintage hand-painted papier-mâché and ceramic dolls depicting baseball players from the 1960s are among the most whimsical collectibles in baseball.

Nodders and bobbleheads describe any doll whose head is connected to its neck by a spring. This not-quite-solid connection allows the doll’s head to nod and wobble. These dolls have been around since the 19th century, but it wasn’t until 1960 that Major League Baseball decided to produce nodders and bobbleheads for some of its teams and players. Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Willie Mays were some of the first non-mascot nodders. As with baseball cards, Clemente nodders are highly collectible.

The first dolls, which were made by Lego in Japan, were hand-painted on papier-mâché. These first dolls were generic, depicting the same large-eyed boy in a different team unifor...

In general, the most collectible dolls are the ones from 1960-1962, with square or round orange or white bases. Dolls from 1962-1966 had green bases, while ones from 1967-1970 were painted gold.

The world of baseball nodders and bobbleheads in the 1960s was an almost exclusively Caucasian place, but in 1962, African American dolls were produced. Even then the manufacturer could not get the skin tones right—two versions of Willy Mays exist; the one with darker skin is valued more highly than the lighter-skinned version. African American dolls from the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Colt .45s are especially collectible.

One of the problems with vintage nodders and bobbleheads is that they were quite fragile, which is a problem for an object that’s meant to be played with by children or mounted on the dashboard of a car. The dolls cracked and chipped easily. While repainting or repairing a doll is a relatively simple process, such changes tend to lower its value, so it’s better to find a piece “as is” than one that has been freshened up.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

How To Build a Killer Baseball Collection: Scouting the Minors With Dave Bloomer

Like most people my age, when I was growing up, baseball memorabilia meant baseball cards. The great thing about baseball cards at… [more]

The Secrets of Collecting Baseball, From Cards to Signed Bats and Balls

I played baseball, basketball, and ran track from the time I was eight years old all the way through high school. Like the other k… [more]

Hitting a Home Run with Baseball Cards

I started collecting in 1986. If you’re in Boston and you’re a baseball fan, the Red Sox may take over your life. They take over y… [more]

Now Batting, National Baseball Hall of Fame Curator Tom Shieber

The Baseball Hall of Fame officially opened in 1939, so we’re coming up on our 70th anniversary. If you include baseball cards, we… [more]

19th-Century Tobacco Cards

Dave Campbell contacted me after reading a post on The Baseball Card blog. He's been collecting baseball cards non-stop since 1981… [more]

▼ Expand this section

Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Old Cardboard

Old Cardboard

Check out this well-organized collection of 500 sets of baseball cards, each over 50 years old. Browsable by type a… [read review or visit site]

The Baseball Card Blog

The Baseball Card Blog

Ben Henry's lively vintage baseball card blog, started in January 2006, offers hundreds of great posts on (and pict… [read review or visit site]

Cardboard Junkie

Cardboard Junkie

Dave Campbell's in-depth blog on old baseball (and some football) cards lives up to it's motto: 'do cards, not drug… [read review or visit site]

Baseball Cards 1887-1914

Baseball Cards 1887-1914

Roll up your socks for this Library of Congress collection showcasing hundreds of players on colorful early basebal… [read review or visit site]

Baseball Hall of Fame

Baseball Hall of Fame

A home run for baseball collectors, this site features special online exhibits, ranging from a baseball-uniforms da… [read review or visit site]



Other Great Reference Sites: Baseball

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 107 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Dodgers Sandy Koufax.vince Scully Bobblehead Limited Edition!!Sf Giants 2013 Announcer Wine Stopper Bobblehead Complete Set Dodgers Vin Scully Bobble Head Limited To 3000!!! 18 Inch Ryan Braun BobbleheadEarly 1960's Milwaukee Braves Mascot Head Baseball Bobble Head..incredibly NiceRare Greg Luzinski Bobblehead Chicago White Sox PhilliesPhillie Phanatic World Series Championship Bobble Head Signed Sga Phillies 2008Jerry Remy Don Orsillo Nesn Red Sox Sports Desk Announcer Double Bobble HeadVintage Baltimore Orioles Bobble Head Dodgers Sandy Koufax. Bobblehead Limited Edition!!Jose Bautista Toronto Blue Jays Bobblehead New In Box SgaVintage Sports Bobblehead "mr Red" Cincinnati Reds Mascot Green BaseVintage Original Mickey Mantle 1961 Bobble Head Ny Yankees Square BaseBilly Martin New York Yankees Cooperstown Collection Bobblehead #691Rare-unique Original Tiger Woods Porcelain Bobblehead! Must See!1960's Mereger Series/red Base San Francisco 49ers Bobble Head Doll1967 Atlanta Braves Mascot Head Baseball Bobble Head..incredibly Nice!!!Rare Sams Tom Seaver Gold Base And Ball Bobblehead Nodder1960's New York Ny Giants Bobblehead Doll Nodder Bobbing1960's New York Yankees Composition Bobblehead NodderRick "the Wild Thing" Vaughn #99 Sga Bobblehead Cleveland Indians Charlie Sheen Kobe Bryant 2008 Nba Mvp Trophy Bobblehead Le #'dJack Kerouac "on The Road" Umass Lowell Bobble Head Sga Lowell SpinnersNib Mike Trout And Mark Trumbo Bobblehead Set With BonusVtg. Los Angeles Angels 1960s "mini" Bobble Head White Round Base Rare!Bobblehead Coach Van Horn Arkansas U Of AJohnny Bench Cincinnati Reds S.a.m. Bobblehead #1 Of 4 "big Red Machine"Charlie Manuel Bobblehead Scott Franzke Larry Andersen Jimmy Rollins Gold GloveTony Perez Cincinnati Reds S.a.m. Bobblehead #3 Of 4 "big Red Machine"Oakland A's Athletics Reggie Jackson Bobblehead Sga 4/27 George Brett Bobble Head Bobble Arms Mib Royals Pine Tar HofPhiladelphia Phillies Sga - Harry & Whitey Bobblehead Nib Richie Ashburn KalasBryce Harper Harrisburg Senators Sga Bobblehead Washington National /10001967-72 Vintage Texas Rangers Gold Base Nodder Bobblehead On Gold Base - No BoxJoe Morgan Cincinnati Reds S.a.m. Bobblehead #4 Of 4 "big Red Machine"Sf Giants 2011 Sga Andres Torres Oversized El Gigante Bobblehead Bobble, Nib Willie Mays San Francisco Giant S.a.m. Bobblehead With CoaGeorge Brett Pine Tar Incident Omaha / Kc Royals Bobble Arms Bobblehead SgaSid Bream Slides Bobblehead2009 Brooks Robinson "golden Gloves" Bobblehead Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Mib1979 Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball Team Bobble Head..incredibly Nice!!!Phillies Non Sga Group Leader 2013 Bobblehead Larry Andersen Scott Franzke Nib2012 Minnesota Twins Josh Willingham Bobblehead Brand New Nr2011 Clayton Kershaw & Andre Ethier Bobblehead Lot Dodgers Free ShippingVin Scully Bobblehead Never Opened2013 Colorado Rockies 20th Anniversary Carlos Gonzalez Bobblehead 10th In SeriesCleveland Indians Rick Vaughn Wild Thing Bobblehead Sga Tribe Charlie Sheen Ball"my Favorite Baseball Team" Atlanta Braves BobbleheadJoe Paterno Penn State Forever BobbleheadAtlanta Braves Craig Kimbrel 2011 Baseball Mlb Bobblehead Nl Rookie Of The YearRare Sprinfield Jon Jay St Louis Cardinals Aa Bobblehead Sga+stub2013 Sga Oakland A's Reggie Jackson 1973 Retro Bobblehead Athletics Nib New2002 Team Reunion Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants Bobble Head CollectibleBaltimore Orioles Oriole Bird Mascot Bobblehead Very RareJoe Paterno Mini Bob Magnetic Bobblehead Penn State Forever Collectibles New NibBaltimore Orioles, Oriole Bird Mascot Bobble-head Rare - Limited EditionRare Ichiro Mariners Bobblehead Legends Of The Diamond Golden Glove 2002 ForeverSecretariat Prancing Bobblehead 1973 Triple Crown Winner 2003 Legends Of The Diamond Harmon Killebrew Cooperstown Hof Bobblehead DollBruce Bochy Sf Giants Manager 2010 Sga Bobblehead Bobble New In Box