To begin…
Happy New Year to all my readers/follower. It’s been a minute since I shared anything on my website. I do have some article ideas and content I need to dust off and just share already.
Anyways, thanks for being here today and I want start by talking bobbleheads.
Collecting or as others call it, hoarding, can be of many different things. Over the last 25 years, bobbleheads have grown in popularity and especially in the sports world.
Over the last 10 years, I have joined the craze and built up a nice collections that features athletes, U.S. presidents, and people in pop culture.
One of my more unique bobbleheads in my collection is of Illinois basketball legend Gene “Coach Ping” Pingatore.
This bobblehead was originally on sale as he was nearing win No. 1,000 in 2017.
During that time I was away at school and saw this Twitter post from the great local journalist Michael O’Brien.
As an avid fan of Illinois hoops and a bobblehead collector, I wanted it.
I even tried to DM Michael O’Brien to pick one up for me.
He did not but I forgive him- he’s on the job.
I did end up getting the bobblehead but it would happen four years later.
Once the school closed, they were selling and auction off items from around the school. When I saw the bobblehead, it was a must buy. I was also interested in the Isaiah Thomas banner and eyed it until the end. I was willing to be in for about $300 but I think it went over $1,000 if I am remembering correctly- I obviously do not own it.
I wonder who has it…
But I was very excited to find out I won the bobblehead. Later that week, I took the drive up to the school which sadly was my first and last time in the building.
I decided before leaving to take the bobblehead around the premises that I need to take a few photos of the bobblehead with the school in the background.
His bobblehad is featured on my bookcase these days and is piece that will remain there for years to come. Coach Ping was one of the best at what he did and an inspiration to many, especially in the basketball community.
More on Coach Pingatore
Gene Pinagatore was a high school basketball coach at St. Joseph in Westchester, Illinois for roughly 60 years. He was their assistant from 1960 to 1968 and took over the head coaching job the following year which he held until 2019.
During his time leading the Chargers, he coached basketball legend Isiah Thomas and Evan Turner and was featured alongside his players Arthur Agee and William Gates in the 1994 film Hoop Dreams.
Coach Ping finished his coaching career as the winningest coach in Illinois basketball history with a 1,035-383 record. His teams won two state championships. The Chargers won a 2A title in 1999 and a 3A title in 2015.
He passed away June 26, 2019.
St. Joseph’s would close just two years later in 2021 after 61 years of existence- all but two with Coach Ping.
Bonus
I also have a collecting Instagram account where I post different items in my collections. Some are in my collection for good while others I am open to trades or have them up for sale.
Today I shared a Max Strus (Stagg) bobblehead.
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