At the annual Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Business Summit award ceremony, it was announced that the Albuquerque Isotopes’ “Native American Heritage Night” won MiLB’s 2026 Golden Bobblehead award for Best Promotion/Event.
On August 8, the Isotopes hosted “Native American Heritage Night” and debuted specialty Native American Heritage jerseys designed in partnership with renowned potter Evone “Snowflake” Martinez and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (IPCC). The online auction of game-worn signed jerseys and jersey sales raised $24,985 for the Bob Chavez Scholarship for the Arts—the largest amount raised through a jersey auction and in-stadium jersey sales in club history.
Additionally, the “Native American Heritage Night” hat giveaway was designed by IPCC graphic designer Brittney Juancho with floral, rain, earth and sky elements.
This was the second year the Isotopes and Indian Pueblo Cultural Center partnered for “Native American Heritage Night.” The event has seen substantial growth with the addition of the specialty jersey, unique giveaways, curated music for the post-game fireworks show and traditional dance and music performances.
“Native American Heritage Night” also drew a crowd of 9,676—the club’s fifth largest of the 2026 season.
“We are incredibly grateful to receive the Golden Bobblehead Award for Native American Heritage Night,” Isotopes General Manager Chrissy Baines said. “This honor is a testament to our amazing partnership with the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the meaningful work we've been able to accomplish together. We also want to sincerely thank our fans for embracing this celebration, packing the ballpark, and supporting an initiative that raised nearly $25,000 for the Bob Chavez Scholarship for the Arts. This recognition belongs to our partners, our community, and every fan who helped make the night such a memorable success.”
About MiLB’s Golden Bobblehead: The Golden Bobblehead awards honor the best promotional events, community initiatives, merchandise launches and fan experiences across MiLB.