THUMB DINGER
Yank fans to get their fave ‘enemy’ as bobblehead
THE YANKEES WILL give this bobblehead two thumbs down.
Gary Dunaier, the Mets fan who went viral after cameras caught him giving the Yankees the thumbs-down following a Todd Frazier home run against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field, will now get his own bobblehead doll.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum will roll out the limited-edition bobblehead doll of the bearded, bespectacled 54-year-old in light of the Yankees playoff run.
“I think it’s great. I’m thrilled. I never expected anyone to make a bobble head of me!” Dunaier gushed Wednesday night.
“I’m still a little stunned and in disbelief,” he said. “It’s been over a month since I made the thumbs down. I’m just amazed.”
Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the Bobblehead Hall of Fame, said Dunaier approved of the idea and the fan will get a “very fair percentage” of the sales.
“We reached out to Gary late last week with the idea and he loved it. We got the ball rolling right away in order to release it early this week,” Sklar said in an email. The “Thumbs Down Guy” bobbleheads will be individually numbered and measure approximately 8 inches tall. The base will be pinstriped, but there will be no affiliation or licensing with the Yankees or Major League Baseball.
Sklar said the idea was floated around of having the thumb move as well, but eventually they settled on just the head.
“We actually thought of having the thumb bobble in addition to the head, but after second thought decided against it. If you watch the moment again, he was very still,” Sklar said. “If he had been waving his hand around, we would have made it bobble for sure.”
The dolls are expected to come out in February, just in time for spring training. Each doll costs $25 plus $8 shipping per order.
Dunaier’s gesture not only went viral, it also has become a staple of the Yankees team. Now, whenever the team gets a big hit, players respond by giving each other a thumbs-down. Shirts are also being sold showing a pinstripes-colored thumbs-down.
Dunaier, who is reportedly now hoping the Yankees do well, said the gesture was a “spur of the moment” decision that the Yankees have now latched onto.
“I meant it as derision and they’re taking it as a positive thing,” Dunaier told the Daily News in September. “That’s funny. It’s hilarious. What else can you say, you know?”
Dunaier has only seen the artist rendering of the bobble head. He said he will be compensated but wouldn’t go into specifics.
“I think everyone should buy two - one to play with and one to keep in the box in mint condition. I’ve got to drive up sales,” he joked.