Fans will have the opportunity to get bobbleheads commemorating a trio of Penn State greats at State College Spikes games this summer.
Record-setting quarterback Trace McSorley, two-time national champion wrestler David Taylor and one of the Nittany Lions’ all-time great running backs, Blair Thomas, will be featured on bobbleheads given away to the first 1,000 games for games at Medlar Field in July and August.
The McSorley bobblehead night will be on Sunday, Aug. 25 for the 6:05 p.m. game against West Virginia.
Selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, McSorley rewrote the Penn State record books in three seasons as the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback. Penn State went 31-9 with McSorley at QB and the Ashburn, Va., native set new school marks for total offense, career passing yards, completions, rushing yards by a quarterback, passing touchdowns, rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and 300-yard passing games.
McSorley’s bobblehead features his trademark post-touchdown home run swing celebration.
Taylor will be on hand for a meet-and-greet and to sign autographs for fans on his bobblehead night for the game against Auburn at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17.
In his four dominating years at Penn State, Taylor, a four-time All-American, captured two individual NCAA titles and was twice awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding wrestler. Last fall he went 5-0 at 86 kg at the World Championships in Budapest en route to capturing his first world title. Taylor’s ‘World Champion’ bobblehead will feature a championship belt and American flag.
Thomas also will be in attendance for his bobblehead night, a 7:05 p.m. first pitch against West Virginia on Friday, July 26.
Part of Penn State’s 1986 National Championship team, Thomas ran for 3,301 career rushing yards as a Nittany Lion, including 1,341 yards as a senior in 1989 after returning from reconstructive knee surgery. That same year he was named Holiday Bowl MVP and went on to be picked second overall by the New York Jets in the 1990 NFL Draft. He played for seven seasons in the NFL.
Tickets for each of the Spikes’ 38 home games will go on sale at TicketFest for Saturday, May 11, at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Free hot dogs, soda and water will be available to fans of all ages during TicketFest, which also will include a watch party to see the Spikes’ MLB affiliate, the St. Louis Cardinals, take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:15 p.m. Gates open at 1 p.m. and alcoholic beverages also will be available for purchase by fans 21 and older.
TicketFest also will feature inflatable games for kids, raffle and door prizes, ballpark tours, and a free chance to play catch on the field, weather permitting.
The Spikes will continue announcing this season’s promotional schedule throughout this week.
