New Life for the "Wha-Whoo! Man" Bobble Head
Fans of a certain age will remember Brad Golden, the "Wha-Whoo Man" as a vocal fan who's calls echoed around cavernous Veterans Stadium. Golden, who had seats in section 224 - about five feet away from the field-level broadcast microphone, became known for his calls of, "Everybody Hits! Wha-Whoo!" when the team was in need of a rally. Because of his proximity to the mic, the calls extended far beyond the walls of the Vet - as he was clearly audible on both TV and Radio for the better part of 15 years.
In the early 2000s, the "Wha-Whoo Man" trademarked his notorious saying and in coordination with the Phillies sold "Everybody Hits" merchandise at the Vet stadium store. One of the items sold was a bobble head depicting Golden in an "Everybody Hits" t-shirt. Though the original production count is unknown, sales must have been slow at the time because very few ever resurface on the secondary market. As a result, though not directly related to the team, it has become somewhat of a cult classic among Phillies bobble head collectors.
Seeking to help fellow collectors fill a hole on their shelves, bobble head super-collector Mark Benedetto tracked down the original manufacturer of the "Wha-Whoo Man" figurine (in China). Amazingly they still had the mold and reported they would be able to reproduce the figurines in a new, limited production run. With the news Benedetto signed up for a production of 200 bobbles - 100 with the original paint scheme and 100 with a retro burgundy hat and shirt. The bobbles will be available late this month or early March and will sell for $35 apiece (regular) or $45 (retro).
Ordering Info:
If you are interested in pre-ordering a Wha-Whoo Man bobble head you can email Mark at mabsports1883@yahoo.com, or contact him on Twitter (@MABSports1883). Shipping will be $5 per bobble, or they may be picked up if in South Jersey or the North Philly area.