The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dansby, ‘Big Sexy’ get bobblehead­s

- — DAVID O’BRIEN

If you want a Bartolo Colon Braves bobblehead doll and don’t have season tickets, it is suggested you buy a seat for the June 9 home game vs. the Mets when single-game tickets go on sale next month.

The Braves announced their five-doll bobblehead lineup for 2017 and that June 9 series opener against his former Mets team is the date for the Colon collectibl­e. The other four bobblehead­s and their promotiona­l giveaway dates are as follows (all Friday games): Ender Inciarte, May 19 vs. Nationals; Dansby Swanson, June 16 vs. Marlins; Matt Kemp, July 14 vs. Diamondbac­ks, and Freddie Freeman, Aug. 25 vs. Rockies.

Swanson’s glorious hair, once featured in a GQ article, will be accentuate­d in the rookie shortstop’s bobblehead doll.

Inciarte’s bobblehead will depict his “Game Ender” over-the-fence catch against the Mets last season, while the Kemp and Freeman bobblehead will apparently be standard-issue batting-stance dolls.

The Braves didn’t say how many figurines would be distribute­d but in the past they’ve typically given away bobblehead­s to the first 20,000 fans through the gates.

Colon, who turns 44 in May, has become one of baseball’s most improbable, colorful and biggest — literally and figurative­ly — cult figures.

Nicknamed “Big Sexy,” the portly pitcher signed a one-year, $12.5 million free-agent contract with the Braves after going 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA in 1912/3 innings during an All-Star season for the Mets in 2016.

His 233 career wins are third-most by a Latin American-born pitcher, just 12 wins behind all-time leader and former Brave Dennis Martinez.

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