We don’t rely on groundhogs for seasonal forecasts here at Valley Review. We rely on pitchers and catchers.
If the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitchers and catchers report to camp in Arizona as expected on Wednesday, we will officially declare that spring has arrived. After all, it isn’t called winter training.
As baseball returns, so does a little relief in the reminder that more of the winter is behind us than in front. We figure it’s a good occasion to do some important planning.
While regular baseball games are awesome, games that offer free stuff are even more so. And the king of the freebies as it comes to our national pastime is the bobblehead. Feel free to nod in agreement.
Whether it’s your hometown Wisconsin Timber Rattlers or your major league Milwaukee Brewers, the opportunity is there to completely fill a man cave shelf by summer’s end.
It isn’t too early to fill in your calendar.
Thursday, April 9: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Burlington Bees. Keston Hiura – Hiura was the first pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 and joined the Timber Rattlers in the final two months of the season. He made his Major League debut with the Brewers in 2019.
Saturday, April 11: Milwaukee Brewers vs.New York Mets. Woodstock — fans who purchase a theme night ticket package for Peanuts Night will receive the bobblehead.
Sunday, April 12: Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets. Hank Aaron – Fans will receive a 1970s Hank Aaron bobblehead as part of ‘70s Weekend at Miller Park
Sunday, April 26: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels. Yooper Day Fang – Yooper Day is back for its third season and fans will receive a Fang T. Rattler bobblehead in traditional Yooper Day gear.
Sunday, May 3: Milwaukee Brewers vs.St. Louis Cardinals. Paul Molitor – Fans will receive a Paul Molitor bobblehead as part of ‘80s Weekend at Miller Park.
Saturday, May 9: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks. Lorenzo Cain as Jedi bobblehead – Fans who purchase a theme night ticket package for Star Wars Night will receive the bobble.
Sunday May 10: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks. Christian Yelich 40-HR bobblehead – The first of two Yelich bobblehead giveaways celebrating his 40-30 season.
Sunday, May 17: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Clinton Lumber Kings. Trent Grisham – Grisham was the #1 pick of the Brewers in 2015 and played 59 games with the Rattlers in 2016. He made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 2019.
Friday, May 29: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Quad Cities River Bandits. Brent Suter – Suter recorded the final nine outs for the Rattlers in the game that clinched the 2012 Midwest League Championship. The Raptor has since been an important part of the Brewers.
Thursday, June 11: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Quad Cities River Bandits. Udder Tuggers Mascot – The Udder Tugger mascot took the world by storm in 2019. The first-ever Udder Tugger Mascot bobblehead is part of Udder Tugger Weekend.
Sunday, June 14: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cincinnati Reds. Lorenzo Cain – The Cain bobblehead will celebrate his Gold Glove season.
Saturday, June 27: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates. Brewers-themed Elmo – Fans who purchase a theme day ticket package for Sesame Street Day will receive the bobble.
Sunday, June 28: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates. Bob Uecker – Fans will receive a “talking” Bob Uecker bobblehead.
Thursday, July 2: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Peoria Chiefs. Lorenzo Cain – The Milwaukee Brewers aren’t the only ones celebrating the outfielder’s Gold Glove. Cain played for the Rattlers in 2009.
Sunday, July 12, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Colorado Rockies. Robin Yount – Fans will receive a 1990s Robin Yount bobblehead as part of ‘90s Weekend at Miller Park.
Sunday, July 19: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Dayton Dragons. Ethan Small – Small was the #1 pick of the Brewers in 2019. He was the Rattlers Friday Night Starter for the last five weeks of last season and he gets his own bobblehead for 2020.
Saturday, July 25: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates. WWE Bob Uecker bobblehead – It’s WWE night and those who purchase a theme night ticket package will get the bobble.
Sunday, July 26: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates. Christian Yelich 30-SB bobblehead – The second of two Yelich bobblehead giveaways celebrating his 40-30 season.
Monday, July 27: Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals. Brewers Bugs Bunny bobblehead – Those who purchase a theme night ticket package for the Bugs Bunny 80th Birthday Celebration will receive the bobble.
Sunday, August 2: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Beloit Snappers. Aaron Ashby – Ashby was selected to represent the Timber Rattlers in the 2019 Midwest League All-Star game, but was promoted before the end of the first half.
Thursday, August 13: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Quad Cities River Bandits. Manny Piña Bratoberfest – Milwaukee Brewers catcher Manny Piña was on a rehabilitation assignment with the Timber Rattlers for a Bratoberfest game and wore the Brats jersey in 2019.
Saturday, August 22: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Peoria Chiefs. Sugar Skull Whiffer – Los Cascabeles take the field and fans will receive a Sugar Skull Whiffer bobblehead to go along with the Sugar Skull Fang Bobblehead from last year.
Sunday, August 23: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cincinnati Reds. Ben Sheets – Fans will receive a 2000s Ben Sheets bobblehead as part of 2000s Weekend at Miller Park
Sunday, August 30: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Clinton Lumber Kings. Fans’ Choice Bobblehead – Fans vote on who gets to be the final bobblehead of the 2020 season.
Saturday, Sept. 5: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers. Christian Yelich as Clark Kent – Fans who purchase a theme night ticket package for Superman Night will receive the bobble.
Sunday, Sept. 6: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers. Ryan Braun – Fans will receive a 2010s Ryan Braun bobblehead as part of 2010s Weekend at Miller Park.
