Long lines surround Dodger Stadium for rare Shohei Ohtani bobblehead

Long lines of eager fans waited outside Dodger Stadium on Wednesday for a chance to snag a special edition Shohei Ohtani bobblehead.

The Los Angeles Dodgers regularly give away free bobbleheads with the purchase of a ticket throughout the year, but Wednesday night’s gift includes a rare golden version of the figure.

The sought-after bobblehead features Ohtani smiling in his Dodgers uniform while holding his beloved dog named Decoy.

Loyal fans of the baseball star lined up at the stadium hours before the gates opened, hoping to snag the coveted figurine before supplies ran out.

Some fans waited in line since 7 a.m. The line eventually spilled out onto the sidewalks surrounding the stadium’s property.

Dodger fan Arasele Torrez said she woke up at 5 a.m., took a bus and walked to the stadium so she could be the first person in line.

“As I was walking, I live two blocks away from the bus stop, I was trying to hide my Dodger blanket thinking hopefully people are not judging me,” Torrez said with a laugh. “I knew I wanted the bobblehead.”

“He’s done a lot for L.A. and he has his dog with him and I just heard it’s a real collectible piece to have,” said Reggie McLemore, a fan waiting in line.

The well-documented love between Ohtani and his dog is a favorite among fans, with many expressing their excitement at Decoy’s inclusion on the bobblehead.

“With the cute little doggie? I’m not gonna sell it. I’m gonna keep it forever!” said an excited fan.

“It’s really cute,” Torrez said. “Shohei really loves his dog and we can see it.”

Some diehard fans even flew in from Japan to obtain the rare golden bobblehead.

The last time the Dodgers gave away an Ohtani bobblehead in May, long lines of fans also gathered outside hours before the gates opened.

Many, however, said the long wait was worth it for the treasured keepsake.

“It’s part of the memories of the game!” said a fan waiting in line.

According to the Dodgers, promotional items like the bobblehead are limited to around 40,000 units. With more than 40,000 fans expected at Wednesday night’s game, some fans will likely go home empty-handed.

For those who weren’t able to snag tickets to the game, the special edition bobblehead is already being sold on several online marketplaces including on eBay, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace and more with prices ranging from the hundreds all the way up to $3,500.