Mariano Rivera's bobblehead late to Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Mariano Rivera always enters late in the game. His bobblehead doll did the same thing.

Rivera got his on the field in a pregame ceremony, but fans had to wait, and that was not pretty.

The plaza outside Yankee Stadium was packed Tuesday night, as the Yankees kept the gates closed hoping the Mariano Rivera bobblehead dolls they were supposed to give out before the game, would show up. But they didn't.

The New York Yankees were forced to hand out vouchers for the giveaway honoring the career saves leader to the first 18,000 fans who arrived for Tuesday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays because of a transportation issue.

The Yankees announced in the third inning that the figurines had arrived, and would be handed out as fans are leaving Yankee Stadium. The lines to claim them were extremely long.

Thousands of people showed up early to get one. The Yankees delayed opening the gates to try to get the bobbleheads there in time, but they never showed.

Some gates were still closed at 5:35 pm, 90 minutes before the first pitch. Gates usually open two hours before the scheduled start time.

The Yankees said the delay was due to a series of transportation issues involving a train from Seattle to New Jersey, and the truck that was supposed to transport the 850 boxes from New Jersey to Yankee Stadium.

Apparently, there was some type of railroad malfunction in Chicago which delayed the train. And then the truck had a hydraulics issue on the way to the Bronx.

The promotion came on the opening night of the Yankees' final three-game home series of the regular season.

Rivera said before the start of the season that 2013 would be his last as a player. The team retired Rivera's number in a 50-minute ceremony Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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