If you’re digging through a plastic bin in your attic or scouring eBay for a specific birth date, you probably know that Ty Warner didn’t just make toys. He made a calendar. Every Beanie Baby came with a birthday, and for anyone hunting for beanie baby september 9, there is actually a bit of a split personality situation going on.
Depending on which "generation" of collector you are, that date means one of two very different things.
Most people are looking for a specific brown dog. Others are looking for a bear that basically is the month of September. Honestly, the confusion is part of the charm of the whole 90s hobby. You’ve got specific dates, retired status, and those tiny little poems that we all used to memorize like they were high school literature.
The "Real" September 9 Beanie Baby: Bruno the Dog
Let’s get the facts straight first. If you want the Beanie Baby whose official "Date of Birth" printed inside the heart tag is September 9, you are looking for Bruno the Dog.
Bruno is a Bull Terrier. He’s got that distinctive white face with a brown patch over one eye and a sturdy, tan-colored body. He was released on January 1, 1998, and his tag says:
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Bruno the dog plays all day
He never wants to go away
He's always friendly, as you can see
He's as happy as he can be!
His official birth date is September 9, 1997.
Why does this matter? Because for years, the primary way people collected Beanies was by matching them to their own birthdays. If you were born on September 9, Bruno was "your" dog. He’s not the rarest Beanie in the world—you can usually snag a mint condition Bruno for under $10 or $15—but he’s the most accurate answer for that specific date.
Other Beanies in the September 9 "Club"
Interestingly, Ty didn't just stop with Bruno. If you dig into the later years, specifically the early 2000s, other characters started claiming the date.
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- Scampy the Dog: This little guy is often cited as having a retirement date of September 9, 2003.
- Sly the Fox: While his birthday is officially listed as September 12 by most sources, some early production runs or misprints have led collectors to associate him with the 9th. However, Bruno remains the undisputed king of the date.
The "September" Birthday Bears
Now, this is where it gets kinda confusing. If you search for beanie baby september 9, you’re going to see a lot of bears.
Ty released a "Birthday Bear" series where each month had its own dedicated teddy. There are actually two main versions of the September bear that people mix up:
- The 2001 Sapphire Bear: This bear is white with a blue nose. The blue represents sapphire, the September birthstone. While it’s the "September" bear, it doesn't actually have "September 9" as a birthday in the traditional sense; it just represents the whole month.
- The 2002 Party Hat Bear: This version is blue and wears a silver party hat. It’s much more festive. It has "September" embroidered on its chest.
If you’re buying a gift for someone born on September 9, these bears are usually the go-to because they literally say the month on them. But if you're a hardcore completionist, you want Bruno.
Is the September 9 Beanie Baby Actually Rare?
Let's be real for a second. We all remember the craze. We all thought we were sitting on a gold mine that would pay for college or a beach house.
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For the most part, beanie baby september 9 items (like Bruno or the Birthday Bears) are not "rare" in the high-stakes sense. They weren't part of the "Original Nine" from 1993, and they weren't produced in tiny quantities.
What to Look for in Value
If you think your Bruno is worth more than a sandwich, check these things:
- The Tush Tag: Look for a red heart on the tush tag. If it has a "1997" or "1998" date, it’s an original.
- Hang Tag Generation: Bruno usually comes with a 5th generation hang tag (the ones that look like a regular heart but have the website address inside).
- Condition: If the tag is creased or the "button" nose is scratched, the value drops to basically nothing.
There is one weird outlier: a special edition "9-11 Tribute" bear. Some people get the dates confused and search for "September 9" when they are actually looking for the September 11 Tribute Bear (the light blue bear with the American flag). That bear was released to raise money for the Red Cross and is a completely different part of Ty history. It's not a birthday bear; it's a memorial piece.
Why We Still Search for These Things
It’s about nostalgia, basically. People aren’t usually looking for a September 9 Beanie to make a profit anymore. They’re looking because they lost theirs in a move, or they want to give a "birth year" gift to a kid.
The Beanie Baby market has shifted. It's no longer a speculative bubble; it's a sentimental archive. Finding a Bruno the Dog with a crisp tag feels like catching a piece of 1997 and putting it on your shelf.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
- Verify the Tag: If you are buying a Bruno specifically for the September 9 date, ask the seller for a photo of the inside of the hang tag. Some variations exist, and you want to ensure the "Date of Birth" line is exactly what you expect.
- Check for "Pellet" Type: Some collectors care if the bear is stuffed with PVC pellets or PE pellets. PVC is usually from earlier runs and can sometimes be slightly more desirable to "tag hunters."
- Avoid Overpaying: Don't be fooled by "Rare" or "L@@K" titles on eBay. A standard Bruno the Dog should cost you between $5 and $12 plus shipping. Anything significantly higher is likely someone hoping you don't know the current market value.
- Store it Right: If you have a mint September 9 Beanie, keep it out of direct sunlight. The fabric Ty used in the late 90s is notorious for fading, especially the "tan" color on Bruno and the "blue" on the birthday bears.