SIDEWAYS GLANCE FORGET BEANIE BABIES, THESE GUYS AS DOLLS ROCK 'N' BOBBLE.

Byline: - Tom Hoffarth

--The item: Tommy Lasorda bobblehead doll.

--Where to get it: Free to everyone who attends Wednesday's Dodgers- Arizona game at Dodger Stadium.

--Why it's cool: This is the first bobblehead collectable ever offered by the team as a game giveaway. Most teams have used or continue to offer these promotions to kids only or create a mad rush to the gates because of limited supplies.

--Future bobblehead promotions: The Dodgers plan for a Kirk Gibson doll night Saturday, June 9, and a Fernando Valenzuela doll night Sunday, July 29. The Angels have scheduled a Tim Salmon doll night Saturday, May 19, and a Garret Anderson doll night Saturday, July 14 (but only to the first 20,000).

--What's the big deal? At least 25 of the 30 big-league teams plan bobblehead giveaways this season. Last year, the Minnesota Twins' giveaways of Kirby Puckett, Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew dolls seemed to ignite the fever for the kitschy 7-inch ceramics that were a hit with kids in the '60s and '70s.

As a collectible whose value continues to increase in Internet auctions, the doll's scarcity is unfortunately created by a limited distribution on single-day, in-stadium promos.

Also, something like a mistake - the Ducks accidentally gave away some Teemu Selanne dolls in January with Paul Kariya's head on them - can increase the demand.

``Team toys sold in mass quantities outside the stadium are less likely to gain value over time,'' said Jay Deutsch, the CEO of Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, a Washington-based company that has created more than 650,000 figure look-alikes for 14 major-league teams. ``Limited supply generates demand - it's what makes stadium-promotion bobbleheads must-have items.''

--More info: A Web site - www.bobbleheaddolls.com - keeps a list of team doll giveaway nights.

--Did you know: The Dodgers sell three versions of bobbleheads in their stadium gift shop. Aside from traditional Caucasian figure, there is an Asian and an African-American, each for $10.

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Photo:

no caption (doll of Tommy Lasorda)