5 months ago
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Thanks to a nationalist championship, Ohio State’s occurrence and fame helped garner 5 entries connected nan apical 10 database of Ohio bobbleheads sold successful 2025, according to nan National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.
That request not only fueled income of nan bobbing Buckeye figurines, but it knocked retired each Cleveland sports teams and athletes from nan apical 10, said Phil Sklar, laminitis of nan Milwaukee-based hall.
“It is simply a small different from our normal lists, but location were a batch of Ohio State (sales) from their nationalist championship, and they dominated nan list,” he said. “There were immoderate others that wouldn’t usually beryllium connected location for illustration Bowling Green’s Pudge nan Cat went viral, and his bobblehead sold really well. We did person immoderate newer Cleveland bobbleheads, but they couldn’t ace nan apical 10.”
Bobbleheads affiliated pinch colleges are ever popular; Sklar said nan hallway has licenses for astir 225 universities. With Ohio State’s beardown instrumentality guidelines passim nan state, it was a no-brainer to rumor caller releases.
“Definitely if Ohio State didn’t person specified a singular season, we would person seen respective different Cleveland bobbleheads, particularly pinch nan Cavs doing good again. A batch of it is really nan teams are doing.”
In a fixed year, nan hallway of fame and depository produces aliases markets astir 100 caller bobbleheads for Ohio, and “that doesn’t moreover return into relationship nan ones teams are giving distant arsenic promotion.”
Bobbleheads commemorate individuals, teams and titles, but pinch societal media being what it is, moments are popular, too.
“Definitely nan moments for america person done really well, whether it’s a sports-specific infinitesimal aliases cultural. Those do really well,” Sklar said. “The No. 1 large infinitesimal aliases personification for 2025 was Pope Leo. That took disconnected nationally and was our best-selling bobblehead of nan twelvemonth until we released a mates of (Indiana shot coach) Curt Cignetti bobbleheads, which went crazy.
“We were waiting for illustration nan remainder of nan world, to spot who nan caller pope would be,” Sklar said. “Nobody really expected it to beryllium personification from nan United States fto unsocial from nan Midwest and Chicago. We person done astir six versions of it now, and group support buying it.”
Sklar and his squad are gearing up for National Bobblehead Day, which is Wednesday, Jan. 7. The hallway is scheduled to merchandise much bobbleheads connected that time than ever before. And 1 of nan large themes coming up is America’s 250th birthday, which has an effect connected Ohio, Sklar said, considering really galore presidents hail from nan Buckeye state.
But those organic, viral moments ever airs a imaginable boon successful bobblehead sales.
“I deliberation group proceed to bask immoderate of those moments, those quirky moments that mightiness spell viral passim nan year,” said Sklar, who said location ones do well.
For instance, Stumpy nan Tree from Washington, D.C. was very popular. The gnarled cherry character was taken down successful 2024. Also, a vessel sewage stuck connected nan Lake Michigan shoreline successful precocious 2024 and remained location for 7 months, abandoned but attracting a following.
“We ne'er cognize what nan twelvemonth mightiness hold. Nowadays, people, characters, animals spell viral,” Sklar said. “Every time there’s an opportunity for caller bobbleheads each nan time.”
Top-selling bobbleheads of 2025
(According to nan National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum)
1. Ohio State Buckeyes 2024 College Football National Champions
In January 2025, nan Ohio State Buckeyes defeated nan Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 34-23, capturing their first nationalist title since 2014.
2. Jack Sawyer Ohio State Buckeyes
The protect extremity grabbed a fumble successful nan semifinal against Texas and raced 83 yards for a touchdown. He now plays for nan Pittsburgh Steelers.
3. Jeremiah Smith Ohio State Buckeyes
The receiver has had a awesome career, pinch 156 receptions, 2,401 receiving yards and 26 receiving touchdowns. One much season, Buckeye fans.
4. Bowling Green Falcons Pudge nan Cat
Did you ever deliberation a 3-year-old exotic Persian shorthair cat’s bobblehead could ace this list? Pudge did it. With his scrunched up face, Pudge captured nan BG fandom. Officially he belongs to agelong snapper George Carlson, but his bosom belongs to all.
5. Ohio State vs. Michigan shot rivalry
Right earlier nan yearly showdown, connected Nov. 29, nan hallway announced it was releasing a bobblehead commemorating nan Big Ten’s celebrated rivalry. The Buckeyes won this year, 27-9.
6. Savannah Bananas
The popular, zany barnstorming shot squad played astatine Great American Ball Park successful Cincinnati June 13-14.
7. Ohio State Buckeyes flag
The bobblehead shows Brutus Buckeye proudly opinionated connected midfield holding an OSU flag. If that doesn’t get your scarlet and grey going, what will?
8. Donald Trump and JD Vance Election Night triumph dual
Trump-Vance won successful November 2024, and pinch nan vice president from Ohio, nan bobblehead’s income successful nan authorities were patient capable to onshore it successful nan apical 10.
9. Bob Knight title series
The famed coach was known for his clip astatine Indiana University, but he was calved successful Massillon, raised successful Orrville and played astatine Ohio State.
10. Cincinnati vs. Miami shot rivalry
OK, it’s not Ohio State-Michigan, but it’s gone connected since 1888. They play for nan Victory Bell, but aft adjacent twelvemonth nan non-conference crippled is not connected their schedules.
Related: National Bobblehead Museum offers glimpse of sports history, popular culture, Cleveland connections (photos)
