NEW YORK (AP) Some Yankees fans are getting a free pass for a home game next year, thanks to the foul-up on Mariano Rivera bobblehead night.
A day after the late delivery of Rivera figurines caused a ruckus at Yankee Stadium, the team said any fan with a ticket from Tuesday night's game can get a free seat for a game next year - except for the home opener and old-timers' day.
Because of a transportation issue, the bobbleheads didn't arrive until the third inning of the game against Tampa Bay. The first 18,000 fans were to have received the dolls, and they were given vouchers. The bobbleheads arrived in the third inning, and there were long lines of fans lined up to receive them.
Rivera heard about the mess in the clubhouse while listening to the television broadcast and called to inquire.
"It's amazing, isn't it? They showed a view from the outside. My God, there were thousands of people there," he said.
A truck transporting the bobbleheads broke down in New Jersey.
"Although a perfect storm of circumstances beyond our control led to the delay in the distribution of last night's promotional item, the fact remains that our fans were inconvenienced," Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost said. "It matters little why - only that they were."
