Beanie Babies 20th Anniversary

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Beanie Babies! At one time, it seemed almost everyone adored them. Collectors believed the value of the tiny cloth animals stuffed with beads would continue to increase, but they were wrong. Now, toys that once for hundreds of dollars are now almost worthless. Beanie Babies were introduced in 1993, and by 1995 the fad had begun to take off. By 1999, value plummeted and the toys can be found on eBay for a fraction of their original retail price. The following photos are from the AJC archives. The captions (like the one that follows) are those that ran when the photos were published. ... 970122 - Dunwoody, GA - (lft to right) 10 year old Sarah Gregory and her sister 9 year old Anne pose in their room with their 110 Beanie Babies in their room Wednesday 01/22/97. (RICH MAHAN/Staff)

970509 - ATLANTA, GA -- Beanie Babies - Julie will ID. (KEVIN KEISTER/AJC staff)

970509 - Atlanta, Georgia - Beanie Babies - Julie will ID. (AJC Staff Photo/Kevin Keister)

970416 - Atlanta, Georgia - Carie Pursley adds another batch of Beanie Babies to her growing collection in the back of her van on April 16, 1997. (AJC Staff Photo/Ann Rochell)

970717 MARIETTA, GA Just when you thought the Beanie Baby craze had subsided, it appears to be going stronger than ever. Each Thursday at Doll Wonderland on the Marietta Square, store owner Thomas Cudihy opens his doors for two hours to sell nothing but Beanie Babies. The Beanie-hungry customers begin to line up hours in advance to buy the furry creatures for six dollars each. Only a few people are allowed in the store at a time to peruse the offerings and the limit on purchases is 10 Beanie Babies per family. Shown here waiting to get in with her mom Thursday 7/17/97 is Debra Dalton, 5, of Dallas, Georgia, looking at pictures in a Beanie Baby Handbook. (AJC Staff Photo/Andy Sharp) 7/97

990322 CHEROKEE -- Ten-year-old Shannon Gross (cq) holds three of the nine fake Beanie Babies her mom, Gail Gross (CQ), bought for her as a Christmas present last year. Under the assumption that the Beanie Babies were authentic, Mrs. Gross spent $1500 on the dolls thinking she was getting a great deal, finding out later that she had been scammed. (ALICIA HANSEN/STAFF)

961118 FILE PHOTO FROM 11/18/96: Beanie Babies are popular toys and are fast becoming trendy collectables for the pre-adolescent set. (PHOTO BY JOHN SPINK/AJC STAFF)

970428 - SNELLVILLE, GA. - Snellville Personel Officer Sherry Patton (L) and Snellville Tax Clerk Melisa Arnold (R) with some of the 102 Beanie Babies they'll be giving away this weekend during Snellville Days. This was shot in Snellvile 4/28/97. (LOUIE FAVORITE/STAFF)

990322 CHEROKEE --Gail Gross (CQ) holds a fake Beanie Babie called 'Libearty' that she bought for $200 from a vendor off the side of the road. She said the bear usually goes for around $400, and she thought she was getting a great deal. (ALICIA HANSEN/STAFF)

970622 ROSWELL,GA:Droves of kids & adults came to the Beanie Babies trade show Sunday at the Roswell Holiday Inn. The trade show was put on by Elaine Comery & Annette Harmon, they are moms of beanie babie collectors. CTY/standalone 6-22-97 (WILLIAM BERRY/photo)

970622 - Roswell, Georgia - Just some of the hundreds of Beanie Babies for sale or trade at the Beanie Babies trade show Sunday June 22, 1997 at the Roswell Holiday Inn. The trade show was put on by Elaine Comery & Annette Harmon, they are moms of beanie babie collectors. (AJC Staff Photo/William Berry)

980812-08/12/98-JOHN SPINK/staff-ATLANTA/FULTON COUNTY- Beanie Baby, Chip the Cat will be given away at the August 19th Braves game where other major league baseball cities have seen fans camp out ahead of time to get a ticket to the game.

980819 ATLANTA: Braves' baseball fan Bryson Spurlin (L,cq), 3, of Gaffney, S.C., holds tightly onto his 'Chip the Cat' Beanie Baby as dad Bruce holds tightly onto Bryson as they enter Turner Field after receiving their BellSouth present Wednesday, Aug. 19, 1998 before the Giants game. Several gates to the stadium were opened at 4:30pm to accomodate the Beanie Baby frenzy. (DAVID TULIS/Staff)

980819 ATLANTA: Braves' employees Cleophas Atwater (R,cq) and Bernice White (L,cq) rip open 'Chip the Cat' Beanie Baby boxes as fast as they can at the Turner Field Plaza gates, which opened early in anticipation of the Beanie Baby frenzy, during the BellSouth event Wednesday, Aug. 19, 1998 before the Giants game. (DAVID TULIS/AJC Staff)

Hall (Hoschton), Ga REUNION Robert (Bob) and Judith Batson(cq). After retireing, Robert the former president of Ty and his wife came to Reunion, where they enjoy thier home over looking the golf course. (JANNELLE MIMMS/SPECIAL)

970220 Cobb County, GA: Nick Modares, of 'Kiddie Go-Round' store, installs a quick sign to let his customers know that a shipment of 'Beanie Babies' just came in. (AJC Staff Photo/Joe McTyre)

970220 Cobb County, GA: Diana McCord, Marietta, proudly holds her Beanie Babies catch that she is buying for her daughter. (AJC Staff Photo/Joe McTyre)

970220 Cobb County, GA: The little Beanie Babies are tossed to the back of the group of (mostly young mothers) waiting for more to come from the stock room. The crowd was told there would be plenty for everyone of each baby. (AJC Staff Photo/Joe McTyre) 2/97

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Beanie Babies! At one time, it seemed almost everyone adored them. Collectors believed the value of the tiny cloth animals stuffed with beads would continue to increase, but they were wrong. Now, toys that once for hundreds of dollars are now almost worthless. Beanie Babies were introduced in 1993, and by 1995 the fad had begun to take off. By 1999, value plummeted and the toys can be found on eBay for a fraction of their original retail price. The following photos are from the AJC archives. The captions (like the one that follows) are those that ran when the photos were published. ... 970122 - Dunwoody, GA - (lft to right) 10 year old Sarah Gregory and her sister 9 year old Anne pose in their room with their 110 Beanie Babies in their room Wednesday 01/22/97. (RICH MAHAN/Staff)

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