Fred VanVleet Talking “Rockford” Bobblehead Unveiled

Fred VanVleet Talking “Rockford” Bobblehead Unveiled

MILWAUKEE – This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in conjunction with the FVV Shop unveiled a talking bobblehead of Fred VanVleet of the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors. The bobblehead features a sound clip of VanVleet giving a shout-out to his hometown of Rockford, Illinois, during an on-court postgame interview after the Raptors won their first NBA title in which he exclaimed, “Rockford! Rockford! It’s for you, baby!” to the international television audience. The special edition bobbleheads are being produced exclusively by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in conjunction with the FVV Shop.

The bobblehead features a smiling VanVleet standing on an FVV logo base with his name and slogan, “Bet On Yourself,” which his agent suggested after VanVleet was not selected in the 2016 NBA Draft. Holding a microphone in his right hand and pointing to camera with his left hand, VanVleet is wearing a hat that says “Champions” with the FVV logo. The decal on his T-shirt says, “FVV 815, Rockford, Bet On Yourself.” and his shorts also include the “Bet On Yourself” slogan.

Each bobblehead is individually numbered to only 2,019, and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store as well as at the FVV Store, which is located at 328 East State Street in Rockford. They are $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order for orders placed online. The bobbleheads are in production with shipping expected in August.

A first-team All-State performer at Rockford’s Auburn High School as a senior in 2012, VanVleet guided Auburn to its first IHSA Final Four since 1975. Recruited mostly by mid-major NCAA Division I programs, he picked Wichita State and helped the Shockers reach the Final Four as a freshman. A highly decorated collegiate player, the 6-foot-1 VanVleet earned All-America honors three times and was the two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.

Despite going undrafted, it didn’t take long for VanVleet to become an impact performer for the Raptors. A finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2017-18, VanVleet averaged a career-best 11 points per game – mostly off the bench — in his third season in 2018-19, but he saved his best for the playoffs.

VanVleet scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers in a Game 5 victory over Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference Finals and followed that up with 14 points in a series-clinching victory. In Game 6 of the NBA Finals against Golden State, VanVleet scored a playoff career-high 22 points with five 3-pointers as the Raptors captured their first NBA title. At the end of his nationally televised interview with ESPN’s Doris Burke, VanVleet, who finished second in the NBA Finals MVP voting, grabbed the microphone, pointed to the camera, and said, “Rockford! Rockford! It’s for you, baby!”

“We’re excited to release this talking bobblehead of fellow Rockford native, Fred VanVleet,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Fred’s shout-out to Rockford after the game gave me chills and I immediately knew we needed to turn it into a bobblehead for all of Fred’s fans to enjoy.”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1^st. St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1^st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the FVV Shop:
The FVV shop is located at 328 East State Street in Rockford, Illinois. Visit the FVV Shop online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.