Breaking down the Giveaways Across MLB in 2022
Pieces of my baseball giveaway collection
When the team schedules come out each year the first thing I look for is when my favorite team(s) are coming to town. The second thing I check on is the promotional giveaway nights. I love a free baseball memento as I walk through the gates before I have even set my sights on the field. I have a small collection of bobbleheads and have gone to games specifically to get the giveaway item.
I got to thinking about my experiences with giveaways (mostly from a Seattle Mariners fan perspective) and how giveaways might look different across all of the different clubs within MLB. I researched each of the 30 clubs promotional giveaways schedules ahead of Opening Day 2022 and am here to report with what I found most interesting from each club.
Hope you enjoy reading about the fun/unique/clever/(sometimes) practical giveaways that you will find in ballparks all across the league this season!
American League East
Baltimore Orioles
As I checked out the Baltimore Orioles giveaways of the year it was difficult to find something super exciting to look forward to. The item that I chose that I would most look forward to from them this season has a niche description, like in the same kind of way you would hear on a broadcast during a baseball game of some very nuanced and specific trivia fact.
May 20, 2022 - 30th Anniversary Oriole Park at Camden Yards Tumbler (to the first 10,000 fans, ages 15 & up)
I was really hopeful that the Orioles would have a more exciting and intriguing promotions schedule to help drive fans to the ballpark (especially because when things like this come out to kick off the previous season you know it is going to be tough to watch as a fan.)
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have a solid giveaways line-up and the webpage dedicated to them is one of the best looking ones in the league. I could highlight the pin commemorating David Ortiz getting inducted to the Hall of Fame, which I know is a valuable piece of memorabilia but this team is also doing some fun giveaways that you might not have seen coming.
April 16, 2022 - the first 7,500 fans will go home with a City Connect Patch
Patches have not been something that I have associated with as a giveaway at the ballpark but I can see many fans getting excited about this. Plus, I like that this builds off of the City Connect branding that was started last year.
May 7, 2022 - Rafael Devers Player Designed Hat (to the first 7,500 fans)
Many giveaways are to represent a singular player to the team but you most commonly see that through a bobblehead. This time it is a hat - and it was designed by the player! If you are a Rafael Devers fan, getting this hat is a must!
May 31, 2022 - Kike Bat Flip Bobblehead (to the first 7,500 fans)
As I was researching for this project this was my first encounter with a bobblehead depicting a bat flip and I thought it was such a great new motion to depict within a classic souvenir (I later learned that this isn’t the only bat flip bobblehead in the league this year but it is still rare.) Do you have a bat flipping bobblehead yet? I know I sure don’t and want to get my hands on one of these to add to my personal bobblehead collection!
New York Yankees
Out of all of MLB one of my strangest, most mind-boggling finds for a giveaway was here with the Yankees. I really did not think that it would be the Yankees to do this but they managed to throw a major curveball my way.
If you haven’t already looked through their promotions schedule yet, you should take a guess of what you think this giveaway item might be.
Really, give it a guess. There is no harm in guessing…
… (though I doubt that you will guess what this item is)
If you could not already tell, this one really, really surprised me (and I think will surprise you too.)
Have you guessed yet?
Really, have you?
Okay, I trust you.
I should stop stalling now and just tell you about the giveaway that truly surprised me here.
Buckle your seat belts because it is going to be a wild ride.
Alright, here we go!
April 24, 2022 - the first 5,000 fans ages 14 & under will take home a Scooby-Doo Bobblehead
Did I hype the surprise factor enough for you? Are you as confused about this giveaway as I am? I really do not understand the reason behind this giveaway item. It would make sense if there was a new Scooby-Doo feature film coming out around this time (there isn’t at least one that I am aware of.) I am also unaware of there being a strong connection between Scooby-Doo and New York City, so it doesn’t make sense to me from that angle. But most importantly, this giveaway is for kids ages 14 and under which I do not believe that these kids are connoisseurs of Scooby-Doo content. This would have made sense as a giveaway when I was elementary/middle school aged when there were new Scooby-Doo feature films coming out and I did know of some kids that enjoyed it, but even then it wasn’t quite in its prime in kids pop culture then and I can say that it is probably even less so now. I see this promotion as coming from someone in the Yankees front office trying to answer the question of “What would the kids like?” without talking to any kids (or any adults with kids) and drawing back on a memory of Scooby-Doo, taking that to the pitch meeting for promotions, and nobody else in the room could answer the “What would the kids like?” question any better and that is how Scooby-Doo Bobblehead night is happening at Yankees Stadium in the year 2022.
Tampa Bay Rays
Heading South to Tampa to check out their giveaways schedule, I found it relatively light but there was a clear cut top pick giveaway item from this organization. This is an item that I would personally like to add to my baseball memorabilia collection (I am not kidding.)
This giveaway is good. This player (represented in this giveaway) is good.
Have you gotten the reference yet?
June 21, 2022 - Mike Zunino Florida Man Bobblehead (unknown quantity)
This is an absolutely spectacular job well done from the Rays recognizing the opportunity to have fun (and make a little fun of themselves), plus leaning in and joining in on some of the jokes that surround them. It is also so conceptually out there, but absolutely still works. I love this bobblehead so much and would absolutely love to have one of my own.
Toronto Blue Jays
Now time to head north of the border and up to Toronto to check out what they are up to in Canada this season! They have a pretty stacked giveaways schedule and I found four collectables from them this year that I would love to have!
June 17, 2022 - Vintage Short Sleeve Sweatshirt (first 15,000 fans on entrance)
The piece of apparel as a concept confuses me a bit (it’s a sweatshirt with short sleeves - in what weather/seasons do you wear this in?) but it has a bit of that vintage vibe to it and has a great graphic design on the front that I would rock this in my wardrobe all-year round.
June 29, 2022 - Player Designed T-Shirt (first 15,000 fans on entrance)
This is a great concept for a promotion that I can see many other clubs also doing in the future. This player designed t-shirt - which player designed it? What color is it going to be? Is it going to be about the player themselves or specifically a new take at the Blue Jays logo or something more broadly relating to baseball? I am very intrigued by what this shapes out to be and cannot wait for the reveal later on this season!
July 2, 2022 - Vlad & Dad Dual Bobblehead (first 15,000 fans on entrance)
I know there are going to be many Blue Jays fans going after adding this iconic bobblehead to their collections. It is a great piece representing family connections and generations of baseball in Canada. Plus, this giveaway is during Canada Day weekend which is the most fitting time to schedule this special bobblehead giveaway.
August 27, 2022 - Celebrating the Blue Jays 30th Anniversary of the 1992 World Series Win with Blue Jays Bomber Jackets (first 15,000 fans on entrance)
Celebrating Blue Jays history will be even more fun if you score one of these spiffy bomber jackets! (I know I would love to wear one of these nice jackets around town!)
American League Central
Chicago White Sox
Looking at the giveaways from the White Sox this season, I found one item that clearly stands out from the rest (though I do not totally understand it but we’ll get to that.)
April 30, 2022 - White Sox Hockey Jersey (first 20,000 fans)
This is a cool looking hockey jersey with a White Sox aesthetic though this as a giveaway item seems a bit out of left field to me. I know that there is an NHL team in Chicago but this doesn’t connect to that or tries to draw a deliberate connection to the larger hockey community. It just feels out of place and that there should be an obvious connection to make this happen but there isn’t anything that I can see (Chicago friends, am I missing something here?)
Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland has a lot of new branding and marketing to focus on this year so I thought I was going to leave more inspired when I went to check out their giveaway items of the season. The team seems to be focusing on classic items for now, so I hope they will branch out more and get more creative after a year or two of being the Guardians.
With the giveaways that I have chosen from the Guardians this year, you’ll be set up for a perfect picnic if you got them both! They are classic and practical items that I could see being used time and time again, that just become a fan’s go-to for when they head out the door. Sometimes the simplicity of these promotional items is nice, which I believe to be especially true as fans and the community at-large are introduced to the Guardians this season.
May 21, 2022 - Metal Water Bottle (10,000 fans)
July 13, 2022 - Cooler Bag (10,000 fans)
Detroit Tigers
The promotions and giveaways for each team are usually clearly labeled underneath either the ‘Tickets’ or ‘Schedule’ navigation tabs of their websites. It took a fair amount of digging around to find the page with the list of promos the Tigers are offering this year, so here is the link for you to easily access it.
Once I discovered the list, it was very limited and underwhelming but I said I would bring you at least one pick from each team so here is what I have chosen from the Tigers.
May 13, 2022 - Pink Out The Park Lightweight Hoodie (first 10,000 fans)
June 18, 2022 - Negro Leagues Replica Jersey (first 10,000 fans)
Kansas City Royals
The Royals seem to be putting more of their focus on special ticket events during the first half of the season and then sprinkling in more of their general giveaway promotions later on. It has me wondering if they intentionally delayed setting these types of events on the calendar due to the uncertainty with the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement at the end of last season. Even so, there are limited pictures for the giveaways that they have announced so far so my choices are somewhat based on my own imagination of what they could be. My two picks from the Royals this year are:
July 26, 2022 - Mystery Bobblehead (first 15,000 fans)
Is this a bobblehead figure to be announced? Or is this going to be a giveaway of the leftover random bobbleheads from years past? There is a set quantity of bobbleheads set though, so at least one parameter for this giveaway has been set.
August 14, 2022 - Hooded Towel (first 10,000 fans)
I haven’t had a hooded towel in YEARS but I remember using one occasionally after getting out from swim lessons and loving it. This promotion is not limited to kids so it leads me to believe that it will be adult-sized and would be something that I would love to have to dry off after a day at the pool or the beach. I cannot wait for the photos of this item to come out to see if it lives up to the images I am imagining of it.
Minnesota Twins
Checking out the Minnesota Twins promotional schedule, I was a bit perplexed that none of the giveaway items included pictures. Today is opening day and 48 hours ago there were no pictures of the Opening Day weekend item! I understand that items later on in the season may not be finalized quite yet but seeing these items ahead of time makes it more enticing to snag a ticket and go to a game. I will end that rant here, and now here are my giveaway picks from the Twins in 2022:
April 8-10, 2022 - Opening Weekend Jacket (first 10,000 fans each day)
I picked this giveaway out even before I knew what it looked like just because an extra jacket layer seems necessary with the weather currently in Minnesota and the fact that their home opener had to be delayed due to weather. Even if these opening weekend games go on as currently scheduled you will probably be a bit cold sitting in the stands and could use this giveaway to hopefully get a little bit warmer and more comfortable.
June 26, 2022 - LED Light Bulb (to 25,000 fans, exit giveaway)
When I read this on the schedule, I had to do a double take to make sure I read this correctly. This is one of the strangest things to take away from going to a baseball game. Just imagine, coming home to your significant other, asking “how was the game?” and then the reaction when you tell them that you were given a free light bulb and you go to show them what you came home with.
Then I remembered that I experienced something while attending a Seattle Mariners game a couple years back. It was an exit giveaway, but not for a light bulb, for potting soil. Don’t believe me? Seattle resident (and someone that you might know from a little show called Jeopardy!) Ken Jennings tweeted about this event.
Looking back on this, I really do not know why I accepted this free giveaway. I did not have any plants at the time (but at the moment I guess I felt inspired that I could now that I was given free potting soil.)
Anyways, light bulbs and potting soil. Exactly what you think you’ll go home with after a baseball game.
American League West
Houston Astros
The Astros only have giveaways listed thru May so they provided a limited pool of things to choose from. They got the classics covered - bobbleheads, jerseys, and replica rings - but I did find one creative giveaway item that stood out from the crowd to highlight here.
May 22, 2022 - Foam Hat Keychain (10,000 fans)
After researching all thirty MLB teams this appears to be the only keychain giveaway this season. It is something so simple, yet overlooked. This is not the kind of big-ticket giveaway item that would sway me to go out of the way to attend this game for but would be a nice surprise memento to go home with.
Also if you have not already taken a peek at what this keychain looks like I bet you think it is going to be shaped like a baseball cap.
NOPE. It is a cowboy hat with the Astros logo on the front - another little quirky surprise to this little giveaway!
Los Angeles Angels
Shohei Otani is the star of the Angels team (and their promotional schedule.) There are seven Otani specific giveaway items this season! SEVEN!!! So obviously, I am going to sho Otani some love, but there was one more giveaway item that I wanted to highlight as well.
May 20, 2022 - Cowbell (unknown quantity)
The Angels are giving away cowbells! But not just that - this is happening during Country Weekend. In Anaheim. That is all.
June 24, 2022 - Otani Snow Globe (unknown quantity)
This snow globe depicts Otani pitching but the funniest part of this is the depiction of snow for a baseball player in Anaheim. This giveaway item makes zero logical sense but I love it and absolutely need it!
In case you were wondering about the other six Otani giveaway items, here they are:
April 8, 2022 - Otani Historic Season Bobblehead
April 10, 2022 - Otani Clear Tote Bag
May 10, 2022 - Otani MVP Bobblehead
May 27, 2022 - Otani-Wan Kenobi Bobblehead
July 14, 2022 - Otani MVP T-Shirt
August 13, 2022 - Otani Hat
Oakland Athletics
The current state of the Oakland Athletics isn’t great and neither is their promotions schedule. As I looked through the whole (small) promotions schedule, I did find one that stood out from the rest:
April 23, 2022 - Picnic Blanket (to all early arriving fans)
This is a cute little picnic blanket and if you are lucky you can score a little piece of fake grass out in the A’s Stomping Ground as you watch this day’s game then you can use it right away while taking in the baseball game!
Seattle Mariners
The good ole Mariners! They are obviously the team that I am most familiar with and have done great things with promotions in the past. As examples, you have…
…the James Paxton Bald Eagle Bobblehead
(you remember this moment right?!?)
…the King Felix “Infield Grass” Bobblehead
…the Neon Fanny Pack
Looking at their promotions schedule for the 2022 season there are two that I am looking forward to:
April 22, 2022 - the first 10,000 fans will take home a Puffy Vest
As the promotions site itself says “take home the best puffy vest in the Northwest.” How can you argue with that? A puffy vest is a staple in the PNW wardrobe and adding this to your closet would take your outerwear game up a notch with lots of Mariners pride. This is definitely an item that fits with the area and the fan base, and even though I see that other teams throughout MLB are also doing puffy vest giveaways, the puffy vest is most at home in the northwest.
May 27, 2022 - the first 10,000 fans will take home the ‘90s Night Neon Pink Hat
This would complement the neon fanny pack from a couple of years back SO WELL! As a big fan of neon, I absolutely love this giveaway! It doesn’t make the most sense with the rest of the Mariners branding or swag, but it is undeniably fun and different, which in a way is the most Mariners thing of all.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers mainly highlight their few shirsey and bobblehead promotions currently on the calendar but I dug a bit deeper into the schedule and found two other ones that I found more intriguing.
May 15, 2022 - 50th Anniversary Oven Mit (unspecified quantity)
An oven mitt? Really? Not what I expected as a giveaway but I do appreciate giveaways that are both unique and practical and this one checks both of those boxes. Another thing that makes this promotion a bit fun is to think about how many people will bring it home, put it in their kitchen, and then either use it as their primary oven mitt or stuff it in the back of a drawer but can’t get themselves to use it (I can honestly only really see either of these use cases; I don’t think there is much room in between them.)
June 5, 2022 - On Deck Circle Beach Towel (first 15,000 fans)
A picture for this giveaway is not currently provided but when it is left up to my imagination, I love the concept. Many teams this year are doing beach towels but this is the only one referencing it as a “On Deck Circle” beach towel. It gets me to thinking that this will be a circular beach towel looking like where the batters get warmed up in. This is a clever take on a common giveaway that makes it stand out for the crowd (and makes me want one!)
National League East
Atlanta Braves
Considering that the Braves are coming off of a World Series victory I was hopeful to find a jam-packed, exciting, and creative giveaways schedule from this team. The opening week is Championship Week at Truist Park with lots of celebrations, ceremonies, and one giveaway that many Braves fans will be after.
April 11, 2022 - the first 40,000 fans will receive a World Series Replica Ring
The replica ring giveaway is a go-to after winning the championship. The interesting thing about it this time around is the timing of this giveaway. It is the day after the ring ceremony, which happens to fall on a Monday. It is a subtle(-ish) try to keep the fan-base engaged and continuing to come to the stadium as the season starts to form into more of regularity (and those less well-attended weeknight games.)
Outside of the World Series celebrations, there was one other giveaway that caught my eye from the Braves organization.
September 2, 2022 - Ronald Acuna Jr. Bat Flip Bobblehead (to the first 15,000 fans)
As stated earlier, depicting a bat flip with a bobblehead is a new and noteworthy thing so this might be the start of many bobblehead stances to come!
Miami Marlins
The Marlins also have a slim giveaways line-up but I did find two items of interest - including one that I had to look up to know what it was!
July 30, 2022 - the first 8,000 fans will get a Marlins branded cowbell
Hope if you are attending this game you realize that it is cowbell giveaway night before you get there or you’ll be in for a loud cowbell sized awakening!
August 13, 2022 - the first 6,000 fans will receive a Güira
Do you know what a Güira is? I sure didn’t know and had to look it up! That was a first - to look up what a promotional giveaway items was at a baseball game - they are usually such common items to me that it was a shock to find something so unknown to me on a list such as this! In case you are also wondering what a Güira is, it is a percussion instrument from the Dominican Republic.
Who would have thought there would be such a percussive theme and beat to the notable giveaways from the Marlins in 2022?
New York Mets
The New York Mets have a few different giveaways to highlight and I have to say they have one of my absolute favorites of year overall.
Keeping things pretty classic, you can go for this one:
April 30, 2022 - Francisco Lindor Bobble Gnome (first 25,000 fans)
The bobble gnomes have been done before and it makes sense to have one of your star players represented in this way that is a spin on a traditional bobblehead. This one makes complete sense to me and I know fans of Lindor would love to have this in their collection of Mets memorabilia.
For another spin on a classic:
May 14, 2022 - Polar Bear Pete Alonso Bobblehead (first 25,000 fans)
Mets fans, don’t get mad at me but I don’t know the Pete Alonso-polar bear connection but I can still appreciate this fun bobblehead set! The part with the polar bear in the Mets beanie would be a fun addition to anyone’s bobblehead display.
And for one of my absolute favorite giveaways (maybe of all time?):
May 15, 2022 - Mr. & Mrs. Met Sidewalk Chalk (first 15,000 fans)
The part that I probably appreciate most about this giveaway in particular is that it isn’t a giveaway directed specifically to kids in a certain age group. It is to fans in general. If you are one of the first 15,000 people to walk into Citi Field this day you are going home with some bright blue and orange sidewalk chalk (and you will like it)!
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies giveaway schedule was not super phantastic but I did find a couple of other promotional activities of note from this organization that gave the general ‘promotions’ schedule a bit more substance to it.
As for the giveaways, my favorite comes towards the end of the season at:
August 28, 2022 - J.T. Realmuto Back-to-School Cooler Bag (for children ages 14 and under)
This is a fun item because of the detailing to make it look like the catcher’s gear! Something that I am curious about with this item is the size and scale of it. I think it is supposed to be lunch box sized but I am not sure. Most other teams with a back-to-school themed item are doing a backpack but that isn’t the same as this. Anyways, I hope some Phillies-loving kiddos tote whatever to school in these fun bags for years to come.
Going back to the non-giveaway promotions that are inspiring from this organization, the repeat event that I love is the Senior Stroll the Bases. I am much more familiar with the kids run the bases events after games but taking this event to a different demographic than I have seen it used is spectacular in my eyes. I know other organizations do (or are planning on doing) this as well but going through the Phillies calendar was the first time I had seen such an event and I had to highlight it here.
The last promotion that I would like to highlight from this club is the Mystery Ticked Theme Night on April 27th. By purchasing a special ticket for this night & event, “you secure a former theme night giveaway item.” It seems like a gamble as a fan of what you’ll get but as an organization it makes sense to help move some of that excess promo product that fans forgot to pick up and give it use in a new light.
Washington Nationals
The Nationals do not need as much hype with their giveaways and promos as we roll into the season because they are taking the league by storm with their beautifully detailed City Connect uniforms that they just introduced. Those unis definitely have caught a lot of well-deserved attention (mostly in a good way - have you watched the promo video for them yet?) Anyways, I am getting off track here. Let’s get back to the giveaways. I think the Nationals really shine this year with their giveaways targeted to kids and just do the expected for adults. So here is my pick for the best overall (but of course it’s a kids) giveaway of their season.
May 14 & 15, 2022 - Kids Superhero Socks (5,000 each day, ages 12 & under)
Then for the adults in the room, what I would look forward to is a bit of a surprise later in the season:
September 30, 2022 - Nationals Wearable Item (first 20,000 fans)
Wearable item? That could be so many things! It is a mystery for now. What do you think it will be? Do you think it will be announced ahead of time as we get closer to that date? Or do the Nats just want to keep it ambiguous? Only time will tell.
National League Central
Chicago Cubs
Overall the Cubs are coming in with one of the best giveaway schedules in the entire league. There were many items that I wanted to highlight but I will keep it down to three (there are definitely some bubble items from my list here for the Cubs that would have been the top highlight if they came out of any other club.)
First, the seemingly unpractical, yet practical item:
April 9, 2022 - Knit Glove Koozie (to the first 10,000 fans, ages 21+)
It is April and it is definitely still cold in Chicago even though it is baseball season. But it is baseball season time so you need to enjoy a crisp and refreshing drink as you watch the team play and kick off the season. This item seems completely practical now, but won’t in the heat of the summer but you will come back to it as the fall air gets crisp and the season comes to a close. This isn’t the type of item that you think you will use as much as you do but when you need it, it will be absolutely perfect and you won’t be able to imagine life without it.
Second, a different take on a classic:
June 30, 2022 - Shoulder Cooler (up to the first 10,000 early arriving fans)
Take your beverages of choice on the go with this fun and inventive style of cooler! Plus, it has ‘CUBBIES’ on it, so how much more can you ask for?
The last Cubs giveaway item that I want to highlight is:
September 18, 2022 - Clear Travel Bag (to the first 10,000 fans)
Though this may not be the most exciting thing that I have highlighted it is very practical and one of those giveaways that even those that get dragged to this game and don’t want to be there for it might get some joy and use out of this later on.
Cincinnati Reds
The best giveaway from the current line-up is for Father’s Day. It is definitely the best Father’s Day promo of the league but this item could stand up on its own as well.
June 19, 2022 - Father’s Day Belt (no quantity listed)
First, this actually kinda looks like a nice quality belt. Second, it is fun and you can absolutely tell what team you are a fan of if you are wearing it. Lastly, it is a conversation starter and eye-catching enough that your friends & family that aren’t into baseball are sure to notice it and ask you about it.
Another promotion that I wanted to highlight that the Reds are doing is the ‘Business Day Specials.’ These happen for day games, where for $20 you get a view level ticket and a $10 credit for concessions. Plus they do a business card drop contest for future tickets! It is such a fun promotion (and absolute great deal) that I had to highlight it.
Milwaukee Brewers
Looking at the Brewer’s giveaway lineup, if you are planning on going to multiple games in the season it looks like there is a particular giveaway you should go after.
April 16 & May 21, 2022 - Brewer’s Coupon Book, features a variety of special offers and savings (first 25,000 fans, ages 18+)
Though I am not exactly sure what special offers and savings you get within this coupon book considering that it is a giveaway only offered twice and at the beginning of the season, I am lead to believe it will help make future games you attend a bit more comfortable on your wallet.
The Brewer’s might also have the special ticket promo of all the special ticket promos this year.
June 25, 2022 - Halfway to Christmas Night - Special Theme Night ticket package includes a seat to the Crew’s match-up with Toronto, plus a limited-edition Brewers holiday-themed baseball cap.
The cap that you get with this special ticket is SO GOOD and would be something that I would wear all holiday season long! I personally do not usually love these special ticketed giveaways but when they are done well, like this one, they can be pretty irresistible.
Pittsburgh Pirates
For the Pirates, their giveaways calendar might not have all of those attention-grabbing items but it is one of the most consistent in the league. Every Kids Day that they host (which averages close to two per month) has a giveaway associated with it. Then for the adults there are Free Shirt Fridays which happen throughout the season as well. Within both of these flagship style giveaway events for the Pirates I found two that I would absolutely want to attend and get the giveaway item.
June 5, 2022 - Ice Cream Bowl (all kids 14 & under)
This looks like a real bowl! It’s shape looks more ceral-like from this picture but it is hard to tell the exact size of such a thing from a picture like this. But I want a Pirates ice cream bowl for myself! I am a little sad that this giveaway is specifically for kids because it is something that I would want to have myself! I could always use more kitschy kitchenwares.
July 22, 2022 - Christmas in July T-Shirt
Christmas in July - what more can one say? But then you can bring the baseball joy to the holiday season with the shirt that you got here!
St. Louis Cardinals
Have to give it to the Cardinals with some of their creativity in the giveaways department, plus they have a lot of the classics too (a purse, baseball tee, tumbler, teddy.) There are two giveaways that I would like to highlight coming from the Cardinals this year.
May 30, 2022 - Cornhole Bags (4) (25,000 fans, ages 21+)
Cornhole is a fun game, so of course you would want this giveaway! (Just don’t think about how you may or may not have your own cornhole set/the place to play it quite yet. That’s a problem for later.) This is definitely a giveaway item that gets points for creativity and doesn’t see itself repeated anywhere else in the league this year (but who knows, it might catch on and become the next big giveaway.)
July 17, 2022 - Nolan Arenado Growth Chart (going to the first 10,000 fans, ages 15 & under)
This is the type of giveaway item that I remember being common when I was a kiddo but haven’t seen much of lately. It has the nostalgic factor for me but I also now see how some kids might (literally) grow up with this and the impact this image of Nolan will have on the kids that look at this poster. Even though this may seem like a simple giveaway item, it is going to be impactful on many lives and memories.
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks do not appear to have that many giveaways currently on the schedule though they are doing not just one but two different giveaways for Mother’s Day, which I find interesting.
May 7, 2022 - 5,000 moms go home with a Rose Gold Cap
May 8, 2022 - 5,000 moms go home with a clear crossbody bag
I actually really like the look of this giveaway cap; so much so that if I was a Diamondbacks fan it would become a part of my typical hat rotation. That is high praise because usually these types of hat giveaways don’t tend to get this type of attention or admiration from me.
Making the clear bag a crossbody style is much more efficient and useful to have when going to a baseball game. When you have a bag of this style it makes it easier to manage carrying food and a beverage around the concourse without having to also juggle your personal belongings. So if you are going to force the clear bag policy rule, I would like to see more of these practical style of bags out there and commonly available to make this stadium policy easier on fans.
I can’t forget the dads here and note how they have a single giveaway, at only one game in comparison to the treatment the mom’s will get at Chase Field this season.
June 19, 2022 - Hawaiian Shirt going to 15,000 dads
Colorado Rockies
Looking at the Rockies giveaway schedule it is also pretty light and uninspired. All of the giveaways listed were common items seen all throughout the league. Here is what I picked out for you to look forward to as giveaways at Coors Field this season:
July 17, 2022 - the first 15,000 fans will take home a water bottle
It is a Nalagene-like water bottle so it gets points for practicality and high chance of future use. Plus it can help you save a couple of bucks at this day's game by filling it up instead of buying an overpriced bottled water.
August 13, 2022 - Kris Bryant Bobblehead to the first 15,000 fans
This doesn’t seem that special and I know it is going to be one of many KB bobbleheads in this organization’s future but if you take a moment to think about how quick of a turn-around time they have to make these and solidifying the decision to make this giveaway happen after you think about how recently the Rockies signed KB, it makes this event noteworthy (and a great feat logistics to make it happen.)
If you haven’t been that impressed with what I have highlighted from the Rockies so far, maybe this last one will impress you.
July 12, 2022 - LED lightbulb exit giveaway (all fans)
You didn’t think we were done with the lightbulb giveaways did you? The Rockies had to get in on this crazy one too.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers made it hard to find any giveaways that are not a bobblehead from them this year. They have 13 (!!!) bobblehead nights this season! If you are a Dodgers fan and a bobblehead collector you have a lot of work to do to keep up with your collection with all of these new additions this season. Let’s take a look at all of the bobbleheads currently on the schedule:
April 16, 2022 - Maury Wills
April 18, 2022 - Will Smith
April 30, 2022 - Kirk Gibson
May 12, 2022 - Max Muncy
May 14, 2022 - Don Drysdale
May 16, 2022 - Walker Buehler
May 31, 2022 - Julio Urias
June 4, 2022 - Gil Hodges: Hall of Fame
July 5, 2022 - Chris Taylor
July 21, 2022 - Cody Bellinger
July 26, 2022 - Clayton Kershaw
September 22, 2022 - Dustin May
October 3, 2022 - Mookie Betts
Note how I said currently on the schedule up at the top? There are three dates (August 10, August 23, September 24) listed on the calendar as “Promotional Giveaway” that do not have any details provided at the time of this writing. Will the Dodgers get inspired and do a different type of giveaway on these days? Or will they add to the slew of bobbleheads already on the schedule? There are enough star players that will be wearing Dodger blue this season that aren’t included in this list so I could absolutely see them being featured as bobblehead giveaways on this day (I am thinking a Freddy Freeman bobblehead getting thrown into the mix is a safe bet.)
San Diego Padres
Out of the entire NL West, the Padres definitely have the best scope and creativity with their giveaways. Honestly I would be happy to go home with basically any of the ones that they are doing this season (sorry, but I have to say I am not really a fan of thundersticks so that is one that I would pass on.) I will give you my top three picks from the Padres working up to my absolute favorite (which is a contender for one the best ones in the league this season.)
In third place:
July 7, 2022 - El Nino Fleece Blanket (to the first 35,000 fans)
This is one of three Fernando Tatis Jr. giveaways this season (the others - a hat and a bobblehead.) I enjoy this giveaway because of its practicality, its connection to a flagship member of this team, and that it goes a step further in recognizing this players nickname and connecting that to the fan base.
In second place:
May 27, 2022 - Pitchers Beach Towel (to the first 35,000 fans)
A lot of teams do beach towel giveaways (and in some places that you wouldn’t expect) but it is absolutely perfect to do this in sunny San Diego! I also appreciate the fun of spreading the love between three pitchers (Snell, Musgrove, and Darvish) in this promotion, which adds to the unexpected fun of finding out who you get represented on your giveaway towel.
And in first place:
May 29, 2022 - Padres & Puppies Calendar (for the first 35,000 fans)
There is a whole lot to love about this promotional giveaway. First, puppies. Second, great baseball players with said puppies. Third, this is a promotional giveaway item that has a direct tie-in to the sponsor brand, Petco. It is such a smart promotion for Petco to be involved with and I know so many people will adore this calendar (like I would) and it all just makes this the perfect promotion.
San Francisco Giants
I had some personal experience giong to giveaway games with this team last year (hello Mike Yaztremski bobblehead!) but it was not a complete season with fans at Oracle Park so I was under the impression that was their reasoning behind the light giveaway schedule. It appears that wasn’t holding them back too much since the schedule is once again light with these types of promotions. So my highlights are seemingly a good chunk of what is on the schedule.
April 9, 2022 - Giants Captains Hat (for the first 20,000 fans)
This one is a great example of making a connection to team shenanigans that resonated with the fan community into a giveaway item. Not getting the reference? Maybe you saw this tweet going around last fall and it clearly sums up where this giveaway item idea came from. Still a bit confused about Captain Belt? Check out this article and accompanying video to learn more about it.
May 21, 2022 - City Connect Fanny Pack (for the first 20,000 fans)
This is a great continuation of the City Connect logo that was introduced last season. The logo looks great on this fanny pack and if I got one it would be my go-to item to store all of my essentials while attending Giants games.
September 3, 2022 - Alaska Airlines 2-for-1 Flight Voucher (for the first 40,000 fans)
A classic but great promo at this ballpark! I personally got one of these last year and was able to take them up on the offer and jet away for a couple of days on a great deal! The deal is great but you have to book your trip almost immediately after receiving this voucher and there is a bunch of fine print for you to be able to use it but if you can make it work you will find yourself getting a great flight deal.
Takeaways
I found a giveaway from each team that I thought was exciting enough to write about so if you take a look at your home team’s schedule you probably will too!
Apparently LED light bulbs are a notable giveaway - in not just one but in two American cities this year.
If you are a Dodgers fan I hope you like bobbleheads because that is their prominent giveaway item.
Sidewalk chalk is something to be loved by all ages! (at least a certain team in the league thinks so)
I am pretty sure every single team in the league this year is doing a bucket hat giveaway. I did not write explicitly about this because this is a late 90’s/early 2000’s trend that I do not want to see come back.
Happy Opening Day! ⚾
Even my cat likes to check out my bobblehead collection!