The Phillies Collector

Collectible of the Week: 2003 Phillies, McDonald's Bobble Heads

After surprising a lot of people by contending for a playoff spot in 2001 and 2002, the young Phillies needed a stabilizing force to pair with Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu in the middle of their batting order.  The signing of Jim Thome, an All-Star and World Series veteran, in December 2002 did just that!.  Entering the Phillies final season at Veterans Stadium, there was no shortage of either Thome or Vet merchandise for fans to collect - including this set of in-store bobble heads sold by local McDonald's restaurants.

In September 2003, the Vet's final month as a Major League stadium, Philadelphia-area McDonald's offered a hybrid-promotion: Pat Burrell and Jim Thome bobble heads (standing in a Veterans Stadium base), and a collectible Citizens Bank Park poster.  For $5.99 with any menu purchase, customers could add one bobble head to their collection and receive a poster free.  Measuring 7" tall, the bobbles are true to the era, and fairly generic in design.  And, though often referred to by the player names - the star of these figurines is the Veterans Stadium base.  The old stadium looms large at the player's feet; thick, heavy resin that is reminiscent of the cold concrete walls that hosted many great moments in Phillies history.  A small plaque on the reads, "Phillies, The Vet 1971-2003."

A nice set, and must-have for bobble head collectors, the Vet Stadium figurines are still readily available on the secondary market at reasonable prices...