Opening Day is here, so take us out to the ballgame.
While we will allow you to buy us some peanuts and Cracker Jack, there's nothing the team at cllct loves more than a good stadium giveaway item.
Just as we did in 2024, we've combed through the bobbleheads, hats and hockey jerseys to rate the best promotional items in all of Major League Baseball for the 2025 season.
We've crowned a champion for each division (based on the overall promotional calendar), and we'll be asking you to help determine which team offered the best promo of the year by voting on our social-media platforms.
AL East
Champion: Boston Red Sox
Best item: Dropkick Murphys bobblehead
The Boys Are Back ... on July 11. And they’re looking for trouble!
It’s Dropkick Murphys night at Fenway Park, and fans who purchase a standard theme ticket will receive a limited-edition Dropkick Murphys Bagpiper bobblehead that plays the band's legendary anthem, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston."
And if you purchase a VIP ticket, the bobblehead will be autographed by the band, and it comes with a Red Sox scally cap .
Grade: A+
This takes the cake as the single-best promotional item in all of baseball this season. Few bands resonate with a team and a city the way the Dropkick Murphys do with the Red Sox and Boston. Their hit “Tessie” begins with the radio call of the team winning the 2004 World Series.
This promotion hits every detail you can want. The novelty is a 10/10, and its celebration of the city is second to none. The Red Sox hit a walk-off grand slam here.
The rest of Boston's top five items:
- Grateful Dead puffer vest and beanie
- "Harry Potter" butterbeer stein
- Margaritaville Red Sox shirt
- "Star Wars" Red Sox Jedi/Sith Hoodies
Toronto Blue Jays
Best item: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. City Connect replica hockey jersey giveaway
On May 30, the first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive this Vlad Guerrero Jr. City Connect hockey jersey, which features a giant maple leaf on the front, and has Guerrero Jr.’s name and number on the back.
Grade: A-
These are really cool. The color scheme is great, albeit the name is a bit hard to read. And I really like the decision to go with Guerrero Jr. Even though he is Dominican, he was born in Canada when his father was playing for the Expos.
Plus, we all know Toronto’s love for the Maple Leafs. So, connecting the team’s most beloved player with the city’s most beloved team is a no-brainer.
New York Yankees
Best item: Hockey jersey night
Like the Blue Jays, the Bronx Bombers are celebrating a great hockey franchise with Yankees-colored hockey jerseys in the New York Rangers’ style. These will go to the first 18,000 fans on April 25 vs Toronto.
Grade: A-
I love celebrating both teams, using the Yankees colors with the Rangers style. The branding is probably the best of any hockey jersey at an MLB club this season.
The only thing holding this back from being a solid A is that it doesn’t say whether any player will be featured on the back.
Baltimore Orioles
Best item: Lacrosse pinny
An unspecified number of fans in attendance for Baltimore's June 10 contest against the Tigers will receive an Orioles-themed lacrosse pinny that will say "Baltimore Orioles" on the front, with lacrosse sticks and the number 25 on the back.
Grade: C-
There is a hockey jersey and a bowling shirt that can be grouped in for the top item, but the lacrosse pinny gets the edge because Baltimore is such a hotbed for lax.
It’s a nice item, but being the top item for the entire calendar just won’t do.
Tampa Bay Rays
Best item: Devil Rays '90s hat
Fans will receive a '90s-themed Devil Rays hat for the May 21 game against the Houston Astros, featuring the team’s old logo in purple and green on a white hat with a purple brim.
Grade: D
There is really little to choose from with Tampa. A franchise that doesn’t spend money on free agents is seemingly doing the same with its promotion calendar. And the Rays are pretty much the one team never to do retro gear for.
Sure, it looks cool, but the “Devil Rays” never even won 71 games. It wasn’t until the team rebranded in 2008 that it actually began to win.
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AL Central
Champion: Chicago White Sox
Best Item: 1959 Comiskey Park Radio
For the White Sox's June 28 game against the San Francisco Giants, the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a figurine replica of Comiskey Park in 1959, the year the Sox lost to the Dodgers in the World Series.
And guess what ... the figurine is a working AM/FM radio.
Grade: A
Anytime a collectible can serve a functional purpose, it will automatically get a boost in my book. This year marks the 25-year anniversary of the White Sox’s final season at Comiskey, and celebrating it with this promotion is a really nice touch.
My only question would be, why 1959? The team won the World Series in 1917, when Comiskey was already in use.
The rest of Chicago's top five items:
- Bill Veeck bobblehead
- 1920s hoodie jersey
- 125th anniversary plush blanket
- Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia and José Contreras bobblehead
Detroit Tigers
Best item: Detroit Stars Jersey
The Tigers are honoring the Detroit Stars (founded 1919), who played in the Negro National League, though they didn’t join the league until 1920.
The Tigers, in fact, have worn these jerseys in their own games in the past to honor the Stars.
Now, the first 15,000 fans in attendance at Comerica Park on June 14 will receive their own Stars jersey.
Grade: B+
I love nearly any time a team pays tribute to its city’s history, especially when it wasn’t even necessarily associated with the franchise at the time.
I just don’t know why the Tigers opted to use the blue instead of the classic pinstripe look, which the team has worn in the past. That would be more in line with what the Stars actually wore.
Plus, the “1919” on the back is huge. I think you keep the back blank and put 1919 on the sleeve. Or maybe even do ‘19, and just know that real baseball historians will understand that it’s 1919 and not 2019.
Kansas City Royals
Best item: George Brett and Bret Saberhagen bobblehead
There are plenty of World Series anniversary bobbleheads for Kansas City this season, as the franchise is celebrating both a 10-year and a 40-year anniversary.
As a set, collecting all the 2015 ones would take the top prize, but none individually are better than the 1985 hug.
The Royals did not indicate how many would be available.
Grade: B+
It’s simple, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The bobblehead captures their picturesque hug the moment Kansas City won its first World Series, and features Brett, the most important player in franchise history.
If someone can collect all the 2015 ones, though, and make a set, they’ll get an A in my book.
Minnesota Twins
Best item: Reversible Prince Jersey
What honestly might be the most well-known fact about Prince is that he’s from Minnesota.
And I’m honestly not sure any other state loves an artist the way Minnesota loves Prince.
The Twins will honor the musician with Prince Day on June 10. The Twins’ site does not indicate how many shirts will be available. But they are reversible, with one side being fully purple and the other being much more colorful, with his iconic Prince signature.
Grade: B
The flowered side looks really neat. There’s much to be desired about the purple side, though it does feature his logo on the back.
I’m also not quite sure why the promotion is June 10. His birthday is June 7, and Minnesota has a home game that day. Seems like an easy flip.
Cleveland Guardians
Best item: City Connect Steven Kwan hat
The first 15,000 fans in attendance May 10 will receive a City Connect Steven Kwan Guardians cap.
The front of the hat has “CLE” with the number 38, while underneath the brim has a photo of Kwan and a signature, though it is unclear if he actually will sign them or if his signature will be printed on.
Grade: C-
If the signature is real, it moves up to a B-. There just isn’t a whole lot to be desired here. Yes, it’s a unique hat, but why is the best part of the hat underneath the brim?
The only guess I have is the Guardians want fans to wear it as much as possible, so you put it under the brim so that it won’t fade ...
Regardless, it’s two years in a row with a Kwan item taking the top prize, but two years in a row when Cleveland underwhelmed.
Also, it’s tough to choose with the Guardians because so many of their promotions say “coming soon.” And the hat giveaway comes on Armed Forces Night, so there will also be themed ticket purchases. Why not put these on two different nights?
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AL West
Texas Rangers
Best Item: Power Rangers Jerseys
IT’S MORPHIN’ TIME!
For Texas' May 26 game against Toronto, fans can receive either a Red Power Rangers jersey with Corey Seager on the back or a Blue Power Rangers jersey with Marcus Semien on the back. They are available with the purchase of a theme night ticket.
Grade: A+
Can the branding get any better? I mean, come on, this is perfect. The Red Power Ranger was always the best, but the blue looks unreal. This is also the perfect promotion if you’re going with another person. Go, go Power Rangers.
The rest of the Rangers' top five promos:
- Retro 8-bit hoodie and hat (two separate nights, back-to-back)
- Jake Burger Whataburger hoodie jersey
- 2023 World Series title wrestling belt
- Wyatt Langford cycle bobblehead
Houston Astros
Best item: Tiara
Look like the prettiest princess on June 1, when the Astros take on the Rays.
For Princess Day, Houston is giving out blue tiaras to 10,000 fans. The tiaras will also feature the Astros logo in the center stone.
Grade: A-
As a promotion day as a whole, this might be my favorite one. Houston is making a concerted effort to create a more family environment and create a stronger connection to young girls that I’m sure they hope are already or will become baseball fans.
Any time a team shows commitment to diversifying its fan base and making the game more welcoming and inviting for everyone, I’m a fan. The item itself is probably a B or B+, but the promotion itself is an A+, so we’ll meet in the middle.
Seattle Mariners
Best item: Randy Arozarena crossed-arm hoodie
Seattle is coming out of the gates hot, with a big-time giveaway on the second day of the season.
This Friday, the first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a crossed-arm Randy Arozarena hoodie, featuring his signature pose.
The sleeves will then show each part of his name, so when the arms are crossed, you get the full name.
Grade: B+
This is really well-designed. Having his first and last name on separate sleeves so they join together when you cross your arms is really smart thinking. I love highlighting a super marketable player with perhaps his most marketable image.
I just don’t get why this is yellow. The Mariners have such good colors, and yellow is not a dominant one. Why make it dominant here? It’s really bothering me.
Athletics
Best item: Brent Rooker bobblehead
So far, he’s up to 69 homers, but with the way Brent Rooker mashes, it’s only a matter of time before he hits 70.
And you can track it with the bobblehead that the team is giving away June 8, though the number of bobbleheads is not listed on the site.
The bobblehead though has a physical number tracker in the base.
Grade: B+
I’m frankly shocked I haven’t seen this elsewhere, because a number tracker is quite a good idea. The rest of the bobblehead is very simple.
Combining this with a theme night could’ve brought it up to an A-. But the team is lucky they thought of this, because the rest of the promotion calendar is ... bad. Somehow, it makes the A’s look even cheaper than they are.
Los Angeles Angels
Best item: Millennium Falcon & Big A
To cap “Star Wars” weekend, the Angels are parking the Millenium Falcon on top of the Angels' "Big A" logo.
The Angels did not indicate how many of these items will be available, but they will be handed out for the April 19 game against the Giants.
Grade: C+
It’s a solid “Star Wars” promo, certainly above average in the league this season. But it doesn’t blow me away.
I would get rid of the block in the middle that says “Star Wars Weekend”, as it’s already written on the base of the structure.
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NL East
Champion: Atlanta Braves
Best Item: Spencer Strider Volume 2 vinyl record
The first 15,000 fans in attendance for Atlanta's Aug. 19 game against the White Sox will receive a vinyl record, featuring music from some of the righty’s favorite bands.
And keep in mind, this is Volume 2; the Strider and the Braves launched the idea last year, with Volume 1.
Grade: A
It’s unique, tangible and is now part of a set. Atlanta nailed it with this giveaway. And it promotes Atlanta’s incredible music scene. Great way to mix sport and culture.
The rest of the Braves' top five promos:
- Chris Sale Triple Crown crown
- Truist Park replica
- Spencer Strider growth chart
- Braves pool float
New York Mets
Best item: Color-in lunchbox
The Mets, who have been named MLB’s best in-stadium food for three years in a row, are going all in on food, giving out 5,000 lunchboxes to kids under 14 for their Sept. 14 contest against the Rangers.
The lunchbox will come all white on the front, and can be colored in however each individual fan chooses.
Grade: A-
This is really neat. And, again, it’s a useful collectible. Obviously there are great ones that sit on shelves or in drawers, and that’s totally OK, but for a ballpark giveaway, having something useful I think adds a really nice touch.
It also gives the opportunity for quite literally 5,000 different designs. So, each one will end up being a 1/1. I just wish there were more of them available, like 10,000. That would be a solid A.
Philadelphia Phillies
Best item: Phanatic About Reading Day Book
Just like last season, the Phillies are capitalizing on reading with their “Phanatic About Reading Day” and have created a children’s book as a giveaway.
Any child 14 and under will receive the book about the famed mascot and his trip to London. It is written by Tom Burgoyne and illustrated by Harry Moore, a former scoreboard illustrator for the team.
Grade: A-
I should just copy and paste my exact grade from last season’s book.
I love the Phillies are using education to create a collectible and inspire people to read. I also love there are multiple so you can begin collecting a set. But again, I don’t see many 14-year-olds reading this book. This book should only be given to younger children, and then there should be a teenage option.
Washington Nationals
Best item: Grateful Dead Jersey
With the purchase of a theme ticket, you can buy a red, white and blue tie-dye Grateful Dead Nationals jersey for Washington's Aug. 1 game against Milwaukee.
It’s pretty fitting having a red, white and blue jersey for the team based in Washington.
Grade: B
The jerseys themselves are nice, they’re not the best Grateful Dead promotion in the league, we’ll get to that one shortly. But they’re certainly up there.
My issue is that this is the best jersey on the Nationals' calendar, and it absolutely shouldn’t be. This year marks the 20th season for the Nationals, and they’re having a whole Nats20 weekend with Nats20 merch, but the apparel/items just aren’t unique.
The jersey is just a plain jersey that looks like every other Nats jersey, just with a patch on the sleeve. Go all out, make a jersey with the best moments in franchise history on it. Do something.
Miami Marlins
Best item: Barbie jerseys
Come on Barbie, let’s go party!
Miami is all about flash, and the Marlins are doing just that with their bright pink Barbie-inspired jerseys, which can be purchased with a theme ticket for the May 16 game against in-state rival Tampa Bay.
Grade: B-
Aesthetically, these are really nice. But they’re not the best Barbie jerseys in the league, and in a city as culturally rich as Miami, they certainly shouldn’t be the best promotion on the schedule.
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NL Central
Champion: St. Louis Cardinals
Best Item: Grateful Dead Jackets
The Grateful Dead is known for having an insane amount of live albums, with nearly 100. Two of the band's most iconic ones were actually taped in St. Louis.
And the Cardinals are honoring The Dead with tie-dye jackets, featuring the STL logo on the front and the Cardinal on the back inside a skull.
They are only available with the purchase of a theme ticket for the May 2 game against the Mets.
**Grade: A+ **
These are AWESOME. Any time you can get someone to stop in their tracks and ask, “Where did you get that?”, you’ve hit a home run. And these limited-edition jackets do just that. No notes. Well done.
The rest of the Cardinals' top five promos:
- Rawlings kid gloves
- Cardinals golf umbrella
- "Christmas" in July jersey hoodie
- Fredbird hat
Milwaukee Brewers
Best item: Cribbage Board
We might have our biggest promotion of the year.
The first 25,000 fans who attend Milwaukee’s May 17 game against the Twins will receive this Brewers’ mascots-inspired Cribbage board, with each of the team’s five racing mascots.
Grade: B+
It’s certainly unique. I’m personally not a cribbage fan, but there’s no denying its popularity. I think this promo would be significantly better though if it were featuring legendary Brewers players instead of the mascots, and I think that drops this from a solid A down to the B range.
But props to Milwaukee for giving out 25,000.
Chicago Cubs
Best item: Dansby Swanson Flow Headband
Lot of MLB teams are offering signature headbands this season. But it looks like the Cubs are the only ones giving away headbands with the hair included.
The first 10,000 fans in attendance to the team’s May 31 contest against the division-rival Reds will receive this Dansby Swanson headband with the flow to match.
Grade: B+
It’s certainly the best headband promo of any team this season. Should a headband be the best promotion on the schedule? Probably not. But this is something I think kids will get a kick out of, and they can wear it to games over and over again.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Best item: Millennium Falcon PNC Park Figurine
In a galaxy far, far away ... the Pirates win the NL Central. Probably not. Their last division title was in 2015.
But, on the bright side, they do have a nifty “Star Wars” promotion this season. The Millenium Falcon soars above PNC Park in Pittsburgh. These can be purchased with a theme ticket for the May 4 game against the Padres.
Grade: B+
Credit to Pittsburgh for actually doing this promotion May 4. You’d think that’s an easy choice, but so many teams do "Star Wars" giveaways on other days, even when they have home games May 4.
It frankly looks just like the Dodgers’ Millennium Falcon promo last season. Granted, this one is MUCH more intricately designed. It’s night and day. And it makes me regret giving the Dodgers a B last season. They didn’t deserve it.
But what could take this to new heights is if you had a player dressed like Han Solo paired with Chewbaca. Paul Skenes could’ve been perfect.
Cincinnati Reds
Best item: Elly De La Cruz Switch-Hitting Bobblehead
De La Cruz is without a doubt one of the most exciting players in baseball, and assuredly why the Reds have several promotions centered around their budding star this season.
One of those is their April 2 switch-hitting promo, where half of the bobbleheads will be right-handed and half will be left. It is not stated how many of each will be available.
Grade: C-
Highlighting Elly is good thinking. But it’s like writing your name on the SATs. I think this would be way better if you had both batting stances on the same bobblehead, maybe back-to-back. Just something to make it more unique. Otherwise, there’s nothing special about it.
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NL West
Champion: San Francisco Giants
Best item: Superman Tear-Open Jersey
With the purchase of a special event ticket, you, too, can look like the Man of Steel.
For San Francisco's June 25 game against the Marlins, just two weeks ahead of the release of James Gunn’s “Superman," the Giants will have tear-open jerseys, with the Giants on the outside and the Superman shirt on the inside, mimicking how Superman pulled apart his button-down shirt to reveal the S on his chest.
Grade: A
This is an awesome idea. Many teams are doing Superman theme nights this season, and no one else had the thought to do something like this. It’s genius and timeless.
I just don’t love having the Superman patch on the sleeve because the whole point of it is that his uniform is supposed to be hidden underneath his shirt. Fix that, and it’s an A+.
The rest of the Giants' top five promos:
- Matt Chapman Gold Glove bobblehead
- Wrestling belt fanny pack
- Menorah
- Steph Curry bobblehead
Arizona Diamondbacks
Best item: Paint at the Park
This promotion is happening four times throughout the season at Chase Field: March 30, May 31, June 29 and Aug. 6. All the end results of the paintings will be Diamondbacks and/or Arizona themed. I personally like the March 30 design the best, when Arizona hosts the Cubs.
Grade: A
If you’ve ever done a "paint and sip" night, you know how much fun these can be. I love breaking up the minutiae of regular-season baseball with a family activity at the game.
Plus, something like this can deliver tremendous memories as well as a limited-edition collectible that you design yourself. Terrific job all-around.
San Diego Padres
Best item: Zen Garden
The Padres are highlighting mental health this season in their theme tickets, with mental health awareness day April 16 against the Cubs.
With the purchase of a special ticket, fans can receive a Padres-themed Zen garden for their desk, nightstand or wherever they choose to put it.
Grade: A
Typically in these rankings, I refrain from these special days, because I think every team should be highlighting things such as mental health or Black history or Autism awareness, etc. Plus, they’re not always applicable for everyone. If you aren’t of a certain group, you likely don’t feel an attachment to that item. (This doesn’t include fandom days like "Star Wars;" they’re more identity days). So I really only point it out in these lists if I think a team is doing something really unique.
For example, lots of teams give out hats or jerseys for heritage nights. The Giants are giving out a team-themed menorah. That’s unique and appropriate. Other teams, frankly, can learn a lot from that ... Or the Dodgers have a terrific sweatshirt for Teacher’s Appreciation Night.
But mental health applies to everyone and what the Padres are doing here is terrific. Strip away the team element for a moment — yes, it still says Padres, but it’s not overdone with branding. And it actually offers something of use for the cause.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Best item: Date night blanket
Get warm and cozy up next to your significant other with a Dodgers date night blanket.
This is available with the purchase of a theme ticket for the April 25 game against the Pirates.
Grade: B
I like the idea, but don’t love the design. I think there’s some meat on the bone left there. I also don’t love the idea of teams like the Dodgers or Yankees requiring you to purchase theme tickets in addition to their already outrageous ticket prices. This seems like it should just be a giveaway.
Colorado Rockies
Best item: Dinger lunchox
Celebrate Dinger’s birthday April 27 with a special theme ticket package for a pregame picnic and a lunchbox with Dinger’s face on it, as well as colorful stickers all around.
Grade: D
D for Dinger. Nothing against the mascot, he’s a great mascot. And no ballpark loves dingers like Coors Field. And this is a fine middle-of-the-season item. A really fun item if you have kids who can bring this to school. But it can’t be the best item on the calendar. That’s a bad look.
Matt Liberman is a reporter and video producer for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.