On August 28, 2024, baseball fans crowded Dodger Stadium hours before the evening game, eager to get the much-anticipated “Shohei & Decoy” bobblehead, featuring Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Decoy. The bobblehead shows Ohtani holding his one-year-old Dutch Kooikerhondje (pronounced KOY-ker-hond-yuh), Decoy, who became well-known after being seen with Ohtani when he won his second MVP award last year. Fans started arriving as early as noon, enduring the hot weather to be among the first to get the bobblehead. The crowd, dressed in Dodgers blue and white, formed a long line that stretched far beyond the stadium gates. Even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had trouble getting into the stadium because of the large crowd. He commented on how surprising the demand for the bobblehead was, joking that it took him a very long time to get inside Dodger Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani, who joined the Dodgers in the offseason with a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract, has been a standout player despite being unable to pitch this season as he recovers from elbow surgery. As a designated hitter, Ohtani has delivered an extraordinary performance, hitting 41 home runs and stealing 40 bases, earning him a spot in Major League Baseball’s exclusive 40-40 club. With a .294 batting average, Ohtani has significantly contributed to the Dodgers’ dominance in the NL West this season. As the frontrunner for his third MVP award, Ohtani’s remarkable season has fueled the Dodgers’ hopes for a World Series victory, leaving fans eager for more milestones and achievements from their star player.