In 1993, the people over at Ty Incorporated decided to manufacture a new type of crack cocaine; one that they could market to consumers of all ages with no fear of retaliation. Thus, the Beanie Baby was born:
A typical 90's drug shipment.
Their appeal widely unknown, Beanie Babies quickly became hot sellers worldwide, hypnotizing the masses into believing that Legs was a good name for a stuffed frog (it is, they were geniuses). They invaded popular culture faster than D-Day.
"You think they'll have the one that's a moose?"
Collectible stores and Hallmarks sold out overnight. Fast food restaurants began carrying them as promotions. Special bears were created to commemorate events or particular individuals. They became as deeply embedded in culture as anything else.
What better way to remember the late Princess of Wales?
They were so popular that people even began to counterfeit them! The FBI cracked down on counterfeit beanies in the late 1990s, and some people were prosecuted for direct known involvement in their commerce. There was a ring in York, England, that was uncovered with over 6,000 fake bears.
This used to seem so lucrative...
I must confess that I too fell prey to the charm of these collectibles, and my vast collection of them still reside in storage. To this day, I could not tell you why I bought so many. But perhaps no one could put it better than Joe Fucigna, the current world record holder for owner of most Beanie babies: 14,346, "They bring peace and happiness to the world and they keep me company. They are the best friends anyone can ask for. Everyone should have 7 rooms filled with beanie babies."
Oh, God....
