MLB fans will score Chia Pets, garden gnomes, selfie sticks and piggy banks this season

Forgive us for going all homer here, only two days away from major league baseball’s Opening Day.

But we declare that the miniature World Series trophies that the first 20,000 fans at the April 23 Royals game will receive is one of the best MLB promotions this season.

The marketing folks of MLB teams get more creative and quirky each season. Dodgers undies on Father’s Day anyone?

Bobbleheads still rule. For instance, the Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies will all hand out “Star Wars”-inspired bobbleheads.

The Yankees will give away 18,000 Babe Ruth bobbleheads on April 23.

But the popular collectibles have been tweaked for the new season. Some of them “count down,” like the Marlins’ Ichiro Suzuki “hit counter” bobblehead that lets you keep track of his run at 3,000 hits.

Gnomes have stolen fan hearts in recent seasons.

“Last year was a particularly big year for teams using the items as tributes to managers, and the San Francisco Giants will carry that trend into this season by handing out Bruce Bochy gnomes on July 31,” notes Ballpark Digest.

“The Oakland A’s will take it a step further on April 30 with a Sean Doolittle Metallica Gnome, which will be equipped with sound. Doolitle’s walkout song when he enters games from the bullpen is ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls,’ and the gnome will play a portion of the tune at the push of a button.”

Although not a giveaway, Detroit fans will be able to buy bottles of dirt from the Comerica Park field on Opening Day.

“We sell buckets and buckets worth of dirt every year,” the team’s director of authentics, Marc Himmelstein, told The Detroit News.

Here’s a look at some of the more unique promotions and giveaways coming to ballparks across the country. (Read about all the Royals promotions here.)

Los Angeles Angels: Selfie stick. The stadium ban against selfie sticks will be lifted on May 6 in Anaheim when the team will try to set a world record for the largest gathering of people using them. The Angels will provide the sticks. The team has broken several Guinness World Records in recent seasons, including number of people wearing snuggies, wrestling masks, cowboy hats, wigs and Santa hats.

Philadelphia Phillies: Retro socks. Judging from social media, fans cannot wait to slip their feet into these maroon-colored throwbacks on June 5.

Boston Red Sox: Replica David Ortiz 500 HR necklace. Ortiz owns a large gold and diamond necklace honoring his 500th career homer in 2015. The one that fans will get on April 12? “OK, so obviously these aren't really expensive jewels or anything, but this is pretty sharp,” notes Matt Snyder of CBS Sports. Ortiz, who will retire after his season, will also be featured on a Papi Gnome on June 21.

Chicago White Sox: Hawaiian shirt. The first 20,000 fans to the June 11 game - which just happens to be against the Royals - will get a shirt emblazoned with flowers and the word “Chicago.”

Los Angeles Dodgers: Chia Pet. Justin Turner’s signature orange beard will be replaced by a green growth on a terracotta bust in his likeness on April 30. The Washington Nationals handed out Jayson Werth Chia Pets last season.

San Francisco Giants: Replica Gaylord Perry statue. The team will unveil a statue honoring its beloved, longtime pitcher at AT&T Park on Aug. 13. The team will hand out 20,000 replicas to fans.

New York Yankees: Mason jar. They’re for beer-chugging because this promotion is sponsored by Budweiser and they’re only for fans 21 years or older on Aug. 26.

Atlanta Braves: ATV bobblehead. One snowy night in 2014 former third baseman Chipper Jones rescued current first baseman Freddie Freeman on an ATV. On May 28, 20,000 fans will get a bobblehead commemorating that fateful night.

Chicago Cubs: Laundry hamper. Fans age 13 and younger will get a free Cubs hamper on June 5. (Parent to do the laundry not included.)

Minnesota Twins: Beer stein. To mark the 25th anniversary of the team’s 1991 championship, the first 10,000 fans at Target Field on July 27 will receive a commemorative 1991 beer stein.

Milwaukee Brewers: Bob Uecker talking alarm clock. Self-explanatory. July 10.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "MLB fans will score Chia Pets, garden gnomes, selfie sticks and piggy banks this season."