Alright folks, buckle up. Today’s deep dive is into that shiny Ichiro bobblehead gathering dust in my attic. Gotta figure out how rare this thing really is. Felt like a treasure hunt, seriously.
The Dusty Box Discovery
Started like any boring Saturday. Was up in the attic hunting for Christmas lights – totally gave up on that idea, by the way – and kicked this old cardboard box. Heard a plastic rattle inside. Dragged the thing down, sneezing my head off from all the dust. Popped it open. Buried under old team photos and baseball gloves? There he was. Ichiro. Mid-swing. Just standing there all bobble-headed. Thought, “Huh, forgot about this guy.” Remembered buying it ages back, maybe after his rookie year? Memory’s fuzzy. Picked it up. Heavy little sucker, decent paint job for cheap giveaway merch. Base was scratched, cap had a smudge. But looked solid.
The “How Rare?” Obsession Begins
Put him on the kitchen counter while making coffee. Staring at me with those painted eyes. Coffee brewed, sat down, and just… stared back. Thought, “Wonder if anyone even wants these anymore? Wonder if this one is actually worth something?” Grabbed my laptop. Ignored the coffee. Got cold.
Dove headfirst. First stop? Just googled “Ichiro bobblehead.” Big mistake. Thousands of results. Overwhelmed. Saw basic newer ones selling for like ten bucks. Felt dumb. Almost gave up. Then figured, gotta get specific. Needed details.
Snatched him back up. Examined the base real close this time.
- Manufacturer? Tiny stamp underneath. “The Alexander Company.” Okay, old-school maker.
- Team? Obviously Seattle Mariners.
- Year? Nothing stamped. Frustrating. BUT – remembered the giveaway date pattern. Was it his rookie year? Looked up Mariners giveaways 2001. Bingo. Found a fan forum mention: “First ever Ichiro giveaway – May 10th, 2001.” Had to be this one. The pose matched fuzzy online pics.
Armed with that info – Alexander Co., Mariners, 2001. Now the searches got interesting.
The Community Rabbit Hole
Jumped onto collector forums. Lurked hard. Reading posts, seeing pics. Saw people arguing about condition and “promo” versions versus regular stadium giveaways. Learned mine was definitely the stadium giveaway version – had the right base. Condition? Mine was decent, just that cap smudge and base scratch. No chips, no breaks. “Very Good” maybe? Not mint, not trash.
Checked eBay completed listings. Tricky. Saw some beat-up 2001 Alexander Ichiro bobbleheads go for $20. Meh. But then? Found an auction from like 6 months ago. Similar condition to mine? Sold for $175. Whoa. Did a double-take. Verified the pics – same exact model! Felt a jolt. Kept digging.
Found posts talking about how the 2001 Alexander Mariners Ichiro is one of the “holy grails” for serious baseball bobble collectors. Especially in decent shape. Why? First year. Limited initial run before demand exploded. And Alexander Company? Went under years ago. Made it a legit vintage piece.
The Top 10 Shocker
Saw multiple “Top 10 Valuable MLB Bobbleheads” lists pop up in searches. Clicked the first three. Nervous. Heart pounding a little.
List one? Scrolled down… Ichiro wasn’t top, but listed in the “notable mentions.” Felt okay.
List two? BOOM. Number 7: 2001 Alexander Co. Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners Stadium Giveaway). Estimated value: $150-$400 depending on condition. My $175 sale suddenly made perfect sense. Jaw dropped slightly.
List three? Confirmed it. There he was again, chilling at number 8 or 9 on another list. Valuation similar. Mind. Blown. That dusty attic discard was apparently a legit collector’s item. Not life-changing money, but far cry from the $10 new junk. Felt like I unearthed gold, or at least, vintage plastic.
The Happy End… For Now
So yeah. Mine isn’t perfect. That cap smudge and base scratch probably knocks a chunk off the top price. Probably sits firmly in that $150-$200 range realistically. But honestly? Way more than I ever dreamed.
Lesson learned? Don’t assume old stuff is worthless trash. Do the digging, check the details, learn the history. That dusty box can hold surprises.
Ichiro? He’s back in a box now. But this time? On a shelf in my office. Not the attic. Maybe I keep him, maybe I sell him someday. But knowing what he is? Priceless. Happy hunting, everyone!