If you were a kid in the late nineties, or a parent trying to fund a college tuition with plush toys, you know the mania. It was wild. People were literally brawling in the aisles of Hallmark stores over bean-filled fabric. But among the sea of bears and cats, there is one specific date that collectors still hunt for on eBay: June 9 Beanie Baby enthusiasts usually have one name on their lips.
Scoop.
Scoop the Pelican isn’t exactly the most glamorous toy Ty Warner ever designed. He’s a bird. He’s got a giant orange beak. He looks a little awkward compared to the sleekness of, say, Valentino or the majesty of Peace the Bear. Yet, because his birthday is June 9, 1996, he’s become a permanent fixture in the "birthday" search niche of the secondary market.
People love birthdays. It's human nature. We want the Beanie that matches our day.
The Reality of Scoop the Pelican
Let’s get one thing straight right away: Scoop is not going to buy you a house. I know, I know. You saw a listing for $25,000 once. Anyone can list a sandwich for $25,000 on the internet; it doesn't mean someone is buying it. Scoop was released on June 15, 1996, and he hung around until his retirement on May 1, 1998. That’s a decent production run.
There are millions of Scoops out there.
Honestly, the June 9 Beanie Baby value mostly comes down to the hang tag. If you have a 4th Generation heart tag, you’re looking at a common toy. If you’ve got a 5th Generation, same deal. The real "value"—and I use that word loosely—comes from the nostalgia and the specific date.
Scoop’s poem is classic Ty:
All day long he scoops up fish
To fill his beak, that is his wish
A pound of fish he eats at least
He surely is a greedy beast!
It's simple. It's cute. It’s exactly why these things took over the world.
Why June 9 matters to collectors
Is it just Scoop? Well, mostly. In the world of Ty Inc., the birthday on the tag became a massive marketing masterstroke. By assigning a birth date to every character, Ty created 365 reasons for people to buy "just one more."
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If your birthday is June 9, you want the June 9 Beanie Baby.
It’s personal. It's not just a toy at that point; it's a mascot for your life. This is what collectors call "sentimental value," and it’s the only thing keeping the Beanie market breathing in 2026. While the speculative bubble popped decades ago, the gift market is still very much alive.
There's also a weirdly specific subculture of "date collectors." These are folks who try to get a Beanie for every single day of the year. It’s like a physical calendar made of polyester and PVC pellets. For them, June 9 isn't just a Tuesday in early summer; it's a hole in their collection that only a pelican can fill.
The "Rare" Tag Errors
You’ve probably heard about errors. "The tag says 1996 but the tush tag says 1995!"
Stop.
That’s not an error. That’s just how manufacturing works. The tush tag date refers to when the trademark was registered or when the body style was patented, while the heart tag refers to the "birth" of the character. Almost every Scoop has this "discrepancy." It’s not a golden ticket.
However, if you find a June 9 Beanie Baby with a misspelled name or a missing "u" in "surface wash," you might have something collectors find interesting. Not "retire early" interesting, but "neat, maybe I can get $40 for this" interesting.
The 1996 Context
To understand why a June 9, 1996 birthday is significant, you have to look at where Ty was at the time. 1996 was the "Heat." It was the year Beanie Babies went from a Chicago-area fad to a global phenomenon.
Scoop was part of that mid-era wave.
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Before Scoop, many Beanies were simple. After Scoop, they started getting more complex. He has that distinctive felt beak and the contrasting white and grey fabric. He was a step up in production quality.
Spotting a Fake (Yes, They Faked Pelicans)
It sounds ridiculous now, but back in the day, the counterfeit market was massive. Even for a June 9 Beanie Baby like Scoop.
How do you tell?
- The Fabric: Real Scoops have a very specific, soft "velvety" feel. Fakes often feel scratchy or overly shiny.
- The Beak: On a genuine Scoop, the beak is sturdy. On fakes, it often droops or is made of a thinner, cheaper felt that pills easily.
- The Tag Font: This is the big one. Look at the "9" in June 9. On real tags, the font is precise. On fakes, the kerning (the space between letters) is usually off.
If it looks wonky, it probably is.
The Modern Market for June 9 Beanies
So, what is a June 9 Beanie Baby actually worth today?
If you go to a flea market, you’ll find Scoop in a bin for $2. On eBay, "sold" listings—not "asking" prices—usually hover between $5 and $12 including shipping.
Wait.
There is one exception. If you have a Scoop with a 3rd Generation hang tag (the one that doesn't fold open like a book), you’ve found a winner. Those are much rarer because they were produced right at the start of his run before the "Beanie Craze" truly hit its peak. Those can fetch $50 to $100 depending on the condition.
But for the most part? Scoop is a friend, not an investment.
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Taking Care of Your 1996 Finds
If you actually have one of these birds and want to keep it around for another thirty years, you need to be careful.
Sunlight is the enemy. It bleaches the grey right out of his wings.
Moisture is the other killer. If those PVC pellets inside get damp, they can smell. Nobody wants a musty pelican. Keep him in a cool, dry place. If you're a serious nerd about it, get a plastic tag protector. They cost about ten cents and keep the heart tag from creasing.
A creased tag can drop the "value" by 50% instantly. It’s brutal.
What to do if you have a June 9 Beanie Baby
Don't run to a professional appraiser. They’ll charge you more than the toy is worth just to look at it.
Instead, do this:
- Check the Tush Tag: Look for a red heart or a simple black and white tag.
- Check the Hang Tag: Is it a 3rd, 4th, or 5th gen? (Google "Beanie Baby tag generations" for a visual chart—it’s easier than explaining).
- Look at the "Birthday": Confirm it actually says June 9, 1996.
- Check the "Handmade in": Most were made in China, but some were made in Indonesia. Indonesian versions sometimes command a tiny premium among hardcore completionists.
At the end of the day, the June 9 Beanie Baby—good old Scoop—is a piece of history. He represents a time when the world was obsessed with something soft and simple.
Actionable Steps for Owners
If you’re looking to sell or preserve your Scoop, follow these specific steps to ensure you aren't wasting your time or ruining a vintage item.
- Verify the Generation: Use a magnifying glass to check the "Ty" logo on the tush tag. If it has a small "TM" and no "circled R" (registered trademark), it's an earlier version. These are the ones actually worth listing.
- Clean Carefully: If your pelican is dusty, do NOT throw him in the washing machine. Use a damp cloth with a tiny drop of mild detergent and "surface wash" only. Air dry.
- Photograph for Sale: If you decide to list him, take high-resolution photos of the front and back of the hang tag. Buyers in 2026 are savvy; they want to see the "9" in June 9 clearly to ensure it hasn't been tampered with.
- Price Realistically: Search eBay, filter by "Sold Items," and look at the last five sales. That is your actual market value. Ignore the $5,000 listings; they are often money-laundering schemes or just delusional sellers.
- Protect the Tag: Purchase a "Tag Protector" (acrylic or plastic) immediately if the tag is still mint. A mint tag is the difference between a $10 toy and a $1 toy.
Whether you keep him because he shares your birthday or you're hoping to find a collector, Scoop remains the definitive June 9 icon of the 90s.