BACK HOME Go to year:

1993 - 1994 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006
1993 The Original 9 Beanie Babies were introduced at the New York Trade Show: they were Chocolate the Moose, Cubbie the Bear, Flash the Dolphin, Legs the Frog, Patti the Platypus, Pinchers the Lobster, Splash the Whale, Spot the Dog and Squealer the Pig.
 
1994 January - Beanies were introduced to small stores in Illinois (Ty are based in Oakbrook, Ill.)
June - 36 new beanies are introduced. These included the old-faced teddies who were re-designed later in the year to new-faced teddies.
The first ever Beanie variations are seen - Tan Inky with and without his mouth, and Spot the dog with and without his spot.
Beanies expand to shops in resorts in the South.
36 Beanies introduced.
3 Beanies retired.
 
1995 Beanies go Coast to Coast.
"Ty-dye" Beanies are introduced.
Spooky is the first Halloween Beanie.
44 Beanies introduced.
19 Beanies retired.
 
1996 The Ty website comes into existence. Beanies begin to retire officially, instead of just being removed from the retail catalogue.
Libearty, Lefty and Righty were the first Exclusive Beanies (US exclusives).
Employee was the first Beanie only given to Ty Employees.
38 Beanies introduced.
26 Beanies retired.
 
1997 The first set of McDonalds Teenie Beanies are introduced.
The 1997 Holiday Teddy is the first Christmas Beanie.
Princess is the first Beanie to be released with all profits going to Charity.
The first Baseball Giveaway - Cubbie the Bear is given away at a Chicago Cubs game.
Britannia the first UK Exclusive is introduced.
Maple the first Canadian Exclusive is introduced.
54 Beanies introduced.
44 Beanies retired.
 
1998 The first Billionaire Bear was given away to Ty Employees.
#1 Bear is given to Ty Reps.
Beanie Babies Official Club (BBOC) is created. Clubby the Bear is introduced.
32 Beanies introduced.
74 Beanies retired.
 
1999 Germania the first German Exclusive is introduced.
The first Signature Bear is introduced.
The Big retirement and the Global Poll take place.
Millennium Bear is introduced to mark the Millennium.
62 Beanies introduced.
102 Beanies retired.
 
2000 The Zodiac Beanies are introduced. They are the first distinct sub-set.
Issy is introduced as an exclusive to the Four Season Hotel, but later turns up at retail.
Thank You Bear is given to Ty Retailers.
Speckles the first e-Beanie hits the Internet, closely followed by Sunny and Periwinkle.
Sakura the first Japanese Exclusive is introduced.
Buckingham the second UK Exclusive is introduced.
Chinook the second Canadian Exclusive is introduced.
77 Beanies introduced.
24 Beanies retired.
 
2001 Addison was given away at a Chicago Cubs game, at first exclusive to this game - later at retail.
Ty Mastercard is introduced and M.C. Beanie is given away to card holders.
The Beanie Baby Board of Trade is introduced on the Ty website, celebrated by Tradee.
The first series of Birthday Bears are introduced.
Unity the first European Exclusive is introduced.
Celebrate was introduced to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Ty Inc.
Pierre the third Canadian Exclusive introduced.
157 Beanies introduced.
178 Beanies retired.
 
2002 The second series of Birthday Bears and  introduced.
The first set of Asia-Pacific bears are introduced (Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand).
Celebrations the bear to mark the Queen's Golden Anniversary is introduced, exclusive to UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Teddy is introduced to mark 100 years of the Teddy Bear.
Color Me Beanie is introduced, a bear in a box with marker pens - purchasers are encouraged to decorate their own Beanie, and submit the photo to the Ty site gallery.
A second version of M.C. Beanie is introduced.
Kanata the fourth Canadian Exclusive introduced.
England, Wales and Scotland are introduced the third UK exclusives; although each bear is exclusive to the country whose name he bears.
Daffodil, Rose and Thistle are introduced the fourth UK exclusives.
New German exclusives are introduced; Frieherr von Schwarz, Prinz von Gold and Graf von Rot.
The first store exclusive - Herschel the Cracker Barrel Beanie is introduced.
The Beanie Baby of the Month programme starts.
165 Beanies introduced.
143 Beanies retired.
 
2003 Ty marks the 10 year anniversary of Beanie Babies. This includes special "10 year" hang tags on US Beanies and the introduction of Decade the 10 year anniversary bear. Decade appears in ten different colours, one for each year.
The second set of Asia-Pacific bears are introduced. These are all the same and differ only in the flag on their chest and the colour of their nose (half have blue noses, half have red noses.
Other country exclusives this year were William, Sparks, Premier, Red and Red White & Blue.
Hero Bears are introduced, raising money for USO in response to the war in Iraq.
Other charity bears introduced this year were Ronnie and Cure.
There was a huge total of 15 beanies on offer at the Ty Store - Amigo, Bat-e, Blue, Dad-e 2003, Decade (brown), Duck-e, Hero (Australian), Kiss-e, Luck-e, Mom-e 2003, Punxsatawn-e Phil, Tidings, Tom-e, Valor and White.
145 Beanies introduced.
119 Beanies retired.
 

2004

 The BBOM programme enters its 2nd year.
The series of "I love" Beanies are introduced; first for Cities, then for States, finally for Countries.
The third set of Asia-Pacific bears are introduced. The bears have flowers/plants printed into their fur.
A massive 26 Beanies pass through the Ty Store.
Movie "ty"-ins are introduced for Garfield and Sponge Bob Squarepants.
Pippo the first ever Italian bear is introduced.
Ty intoduce a special 'Harrods' exclusive, the first UK Exclusive store bear.
220 Beanies introduced.
194 Beanies retired.
 
2005 The BBOM programme enters its 3rd year.
European Beanie collectors are worried when Ty Europe goes into administration - but relieved when shortly after it is replaced by Ty UK.
A second round of "state" Bears are introduced - these are "flower" bears.
26 "Alphabet Beanie Babies" are introduced. These are the size of Jingles but are listed in the main Beanie category on the Ty  website.
We see another set of Asia-Pacific bears - they are 'flag nose' bears, a style first seen with the Champion Beanies and MC Beanie.
27 Beanies go on sale at the Ty Store.
BBOC breaks with tradition, instead of a Clubby bear the original nine are re-introduced with special BBOC buttons.
Another hugely successful 'Harrods' Beanie goes on sale.
239 Beanies introduced.
173 Beanies retired.
 
2006 It's October and there are only a couple of months left of the year...
The BBOM programme enters its 4th year.
Ty introduces the Beanie Greetings and Bow Wow Beanies ranges.
16 new Beanies have been introduced at the Ty Store.
There have been exclusives for Australia, Japan, Canada, UK and the US.
The UK market has been given a shot in the arm with the introduction of the Hamley's Exclusive Beanies, the Beale's Exclusive Beanie and of course the Harrod's Beanies. Not to mention the Beatrix Potter Beanies!
There have been 13 Hallmark Beanies.
214 Beanies introduced.
155 Beanies retired.
BACK HOME