Display Cases

These days, walk into your local sports memorabilia shop and you'll see display cases full of cards, bats, helmets and? bobbleheads? Yes, the market for these whimsical but compelling figurines has been expanding faster than Brett Favre can nod. Many collectors get their first taste at promotional giveaway MLB game days, then want to see the whole team-set in their display cases. And once you've got a dozen players nodding away at you, they begin to look like they need some company.

Which could explain how bobbleheads can now fetch thousands of dollars at auction. Five years ago, collectors say, it raised eyebrows when one of the cheap toys sold for $50 at auction. Especially prized are the original paper-mache dolls from Japan. "Not many survived," laments one collector.

"They're fun to play with, but that's what destroys them," enthusiasts caution. "Put them in display cases to keep them in good condition." Respecting the growing collectors market, manufacturers are now putting more effort into their bobbleheads. A high-quality doll can take up to 4 months to reach those display cases. The athlete is photographed from every angle, including close-ups of their expressions. Their height and weight are noted and proportionally distorted, then cast in durable plastic or resin. These days, a new bobblehead retails for about $20.