Wisconsin's Bobblehead Hall Of Fame Unveils Pickleball Mascot, Bobbles

MILWAUKEE, WI — Pickleball, the 1960s-era invention of a Washington resident, continues to sweep the nation — and Wisconsin — in popularity, becoming the nation’s fastest-growing sport for the last three years running.

Two cities in Wisconsin, Madison and Milwaukee, recently ranked among 93 U.S. cities in providing enough pickleball courts. The ranking of pickleball courts in large cities comes from the Trust for Public Land, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that works with communities nationwide to create and protect park space.

Madison ranked at No. 5 on the list with 43 pickleball courts. In a city of 277,000 people, that’s about 1.6 pickleball courts per 10,000 residents.

Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, which ranked at No. 68, there are 18 pickleball courts. In a city of 576,000, that means there is about 1/3 of a court for every 10,000 residents.

So as enthusiasts celebrate National Pickleball Day on Tuesday, the Bobblehead Hall of Fame in Milwaukee has unveiled two new bobbleheads to commemorate a day that pays homage to an outdoor activity that combines tennis, table tennis, and badminton. The Hall of Fame introduced two new offerings, including one that features “Kitchen” the official mascot of Pickleball that has made appearances at tournaments around the country.

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Standing on a yellow pickleball-shaped base bearing his name, the smiling Kitchen bobblehead is holding a paddle featuring his picture. Wearing sunglasses on his pickleball-shaped head, "Kitchen" is also wearing a pair of shorts with a net design and a blue cap with his name and a pickleball paddle across the front. The bobblehead, which will be individually numbered to 2,023, is only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online store.

The bobblehead, which is expected to ship in November, costs $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

The other bobblehead, The Pickleball Bobble, is the newest addition to the first-of-its-kind Sports Ball Bobble Series and joins previously released balls for baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, soccer, and tennis that all bobble, Hall of Fame officials said.

The Pickleball Bobble is on a base that is a replica of a pickleball court. “Pickleball” is featured prominently in big, block letters on the front of the base. Each bobble is individually numbered to 2,023 and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store.

The bobbles are $25 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

Designed by Melvin LeBlanc, Kitchen made his debut appearance at the Association of Pickleball Players Casa Grande Pickleball Open in December 2021. He has become a staple on the APP Tour and has a growing fan following. As for his name, Kitchen, refers to the seven-foot zone on each side of the net. The non-volley zone is more commonly referred to as “the kitchen” of a pickleball court. Players are not permitted to volley while standing in it. The kitchen rule exists to prevent a player from standing at the net and smashing every hit.

"We’re thrilled to be unveiling the first two Pickleball Bobbles on National Pickleball Day,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said in a news release. “The bobblehead of Kitchen and the Pickleball Sports Ball Bobble will be must-haves for pickleball players everywhere.”

Pickleball has grown rapidly in popularity since its invention in 1965 as a children’s backyard game at the summer home of Joel Pritchard on Bainbridge Island, Wash. Pritchard and two of his friends, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell, are credited with devising the game and establishing the rules.

In 2022, pickleball was adopted as the official state sport of Washington.

It is played on a level court with short-handed paddles and a hard plastic ball that has holes through it — like a Whiffle ball. The ball is volleyed over a low net by two players in singles competition or by two pair of players in doubles. The sport can be played either outdoors or indoors. Fun for all ages and easy for beginners to learn, pickleball was named the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association in 2021, 2022, and 2023.