Red Sox dump 'offensive,' 'racially insensitive' David Ortiz bobblehead giveaway just hours before game

The Red Sox canceled a David Ortiz bobblehead giveaway at Fenway Park five hours before their game against the Yankees on Tuesday night because the figurines were considered "offensive" and "racially offensive" by the team’s president.

Batting next in the #SoxPromos lineup: The Papi Bobblehead! 💪
Be there this Tuesday: https://t.co/uQuufOJ7ez pic.twitter.com/ayeZvGw9Ym

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) August 7, 2016

The bobblehead was a likeness of Ortiz holding a microphone, a tribute to the emotional speech he made at Fenway five days after the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013 where he famously proclaimed, "This is our f-ucking city."

"It was an inaccurate portrayal of David,”  Sam Kennedy said after approving of the giveaways months earlier. “It doesn’t really look like David. Number two, I personally thought it seemed to be an offensive portrayal of him and racially insensitive.

"If I was feeling this way, certainly other people would," Kennedy added. "So we pulled the plug."

Kennedy said the 15,000 bobbleheads would be returned to the manufacturer, BDA Inc., of Woodville, Wash., and a new model shipped out. Now all ticketed fans for Tuesday’s game will receive the new bobbleheads in the mail, not just the first 15,000.

“Everybody will receive one,” Kennedy said.

Ok I can see why they cancelled Ortiz bobblehead night pic.twitter.com/3E9AtWgxOy

— Connor #2019Champs (@connortheOGfam) August 9, 2016

Before the game, Ortiz said he was unaware of the situation.

“That’s supposed to be me?” he said after looking at a photo of the bobblehead with the odd white lips.

Ortiz went on to say he agreed with the team’s decision.

Minor league team to give away Jayson Werth bobbleheads with real beards (PHOTO)

Bobbleheads are still one of the best sports giveaways these days, but since you can get your own bobbing replica of your grandma made on the Internet, the thrill has sort of lost its bounce.

Few are truly unique until an upcoming freebie of Jayson Werth reared its little head.

The Potomac Nationals, Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, found a way to make their upcoming bobblehead giveaway a little different. This Saturday they are giving the first 1,000 fans a Werth bobblehead with a real beard:

JAYSON WERTH BOBBLEBEARDS ARE HERE! The first 1,000 lucky fans at The Pfitz on Sat. will take one home! Gates at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/KhQDb81PLs
— Potomac Nationals (@PNats42) June 10, 2014

While Brain Wilson already had his hairy face immortalized with a real beard, Werth's bobblehead is way more hirsute. A little scary actually — with what looks like lots of reddish hair coming out of his face and back.

And if they have any left over — with a little purple paint — they could pawn them off on the Rockies as their beloved Sasquatch.

Dodger teammates turn Puig into human bobblehead (VIDEO)

Adrian Gonzalez and Juan Uribe had a little fun with Yasiel Puig in the Dodgers dugout during their five-run 6th inning Tuesday night.

While the Dodgers were handing out ceramic versions of Puig, his teammate's turned the real right fielder into a human bobblehead.

On second thought, it looks pretty painful.

Panthers hand out Tim Thomas bobbleheads after he was traded (PHOTO)

Talk about poorly timed promotions, the Florida Panthers gave away Tim Thomas bobbleheads to the first 7,500 fans on Sunday. This was a little problem, of course, because Tim Thomas is no longer with the Panthers, traded on Wednesday to Dallas.

The organization already had the bobbleheads made, though, so they went through with the promotion even with Roberto Luongo starting against Boston.

It's Tim Thomas bobblehead day at the Panthers game. Yes, still. pic.twitter.com/gdqjn0U2Fg
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) March 9, 2014

To try and make things right, the Panthers also gave out Roberto Luongo posters to fans with a shot from his first stint with the organization. 

The big winners — the fans.

Everyone in attendance will receive a Luongo poster! First 7500 can also take home a Thomas Bobblehead. pic.twitter.com/a26QjFGvaE
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 9, 2014

[CBSSports]

Mariano Rivera bobblehead delay causes chaos during Yankees giveaway

A New York Yankees giveaway resulted in mayhem after a shipment of Mariano Rivera bobblehead dolls showed up late in the Bronx causing long lines and complaints at Yankee Stadium before Tuesday's game against the Rays.

The Yankees' decision to pass out 18,000 bobbleheads on "Mariano Rivera Bobblehead Night" turned into a promotional nightmare after a shipping snafu kept the valued souvenirs from arriving by 5 p.m. —when the gates were scheduled to open — after thousands of fans lined up outside the Stadium.

The gates opened more than 30 minutes later than usual, and the Yankees handed out vouchers instead, reported CBS New York. An announcement was made during the middle of the third inning that vouchers for the Little Mos could be redeemed from that point until 30 minutes after the game.

Lines formed immediately and stretched from beyond the right-field foul pole to third base on the main level, then up a ramp to another level and back down to the first level, as some fans waited several innings to scoop up their gifts. Pushing and arguing broke out among the anxious fans waiting for the freebies.

Deborah Tymon, the Yankees’ senior VP of marketing, said the shipment arrived shortly after 6 p.m., adding "everyone with a voucher will be receiving a bobblehead tonight."

According to Tymon, the shipment originated in Seattle and traveled by train through Chicago, before the truck transporting the dolls broke down in New Jersey.

Tymon added that the Yanks typically receive giveaway shipments on the day of a game due to storage restrictions at the Stadium. But fans were in no mood to hear excuses.

Before the game was over, some of the bobbleheads showed up on eBay with a $250 asking price.