So, you've got a Beanie Baby with a March 11th birthday tucked away in a plastic bin somewhere. Maybe you're scouring eBay listings, or perhaps you're just wondering if that little grey goose is actually your ticket to an early retirement. It’s funny how these things work. One day they're just $5 toys at the checkout counter, and the next, they're the subjects of intense internet debates and "rare" listings with five-figure price tags.
Honestly, the world of Beanie Baby collecting is a bit of a mess. It’s a mix of nostalgia, genuine rarity, and—let’s be real—a lot of misinformation. If you’re looking for the "March 11th Beanie Baby," you’re likely looking at Honks the Goose.
But there is a lot more to the story than just a date on a tag.
The Goose, the Myth, and the March 11th Birthday
Honks the Goose was born on March 11, 1999. He’s a relatively simple bird. Grey body, orange beak, orange feet. He doesn't have the flashy "emerald" fur of Erin the Bear or the historical weight of Princess.
But because he was released toward the tail end of the original Beanie craze, he carries that specific brand of 1999 nostalgia. People often confuse the "March 11th" date with other famous March Beanies. For instance, Erin the Bear is the one everyone associates with March because of St. Patrick's Day, but her birthday is actually March 17th.
Then there is the "March" birthday bear from the Gemstone collection. That one is a pale blue bear with a birthday hat. If your Beanie is blue and looks like it’s ready for a party, that’s the "March" Bear. But if it’s a goose? That’s Honks.
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Why Honks Matters (Or Doesn't)
Is Honks rare? Not exactly.
Ty Inc. produced millions of these things. By 1999, the "scarcity" model was starting to show its cracks. The company was pumping out new designs faster than collectors could keep up.
However, you’ll see Honks listed for thousands of dollars. You’ve probably seen the headlines. "Rare Beanie Baby with Tag Error Sells for $5,000!" It’s tempting to believe. But usually, those high-priced listings on eBay are just that—listings. They aren't completed sales.
The Tag Error Rabbit Hole
If you look at your March 11th Honks and see a typo, your heart might skip a beat. Collectors in the 90s were obsessed with errors. A missing period? A misspelled city? A space where there shouldn't be one?
For Honks, common "errors" people point out include:
- The "Gasport" vs. "Gosport" typo on the swing tag.
- Extra spaces in the poem.
- The "Oakbrook" (one word) vs. "Oak Brook" (two words) debate.
Here’s the truth: most of these weren't actually rare errors. Ty changed their tags all the time. Some "errors" were present on millions of Beanies.
If your Honks has a Star on the tush tag but the swing tag says something else, or if the tush tag has a red stamp inside (indicating a specific factory), it might be more interesting to a niche collector. But for the most part, a March 11th Honks is a $5 to $15 item.
The "Birthday Bear" Confusion
Sometimes people search for the March 11th Beanie Baby because they are looking for a gift. Ty eventually released a series of bears specifically for birthdays.
The "March" bear from the birthday set features an aquamarine-colored gemstone (representing the March birthstone). It’s cute. It’s festive. But it’s a completely different animal—literally.
If you are looking for a Beanie born on March 11th to match someone's actual birthday, Honks is your guy. He's the official March 11th representative in the Ty universe.
Real Value vs. Internet Hype
Let's talk money. It’s the part everyone wants to know.
If you go to a local toy collectible shop, they probably won't offer you more than a few bucks for a Honks the Goose. Why? Because they already have five of them in the back.
The "valuable" Beanies are usually the "Original 9" or very specific early generations (1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation hang tags). By the time Honks arrived in 1999, we were into the 5th generation of tags. These tags are the ones with the star and the yellow/orange "Beanie Original Baby" logo. They are the most common tags in existence.
What to Look for if You Think You Have a "Rare" One
Maybe you’re thinking, "But my March 11th Beanie is different!"
Okay, let’s look closer.
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Check the pellets. Most Beanies from 1999 used PE Pellets. These are common. If you somehow have a very early version with PVC Pellets, that can occasionally add a small premium, but for a 1999 release like Honks, PE is the standard.
Check the hang tag (the heart). Is it mint? If it's creased, torn, or has the price sticker residue on it, the value drops to basically zero for a serious collector. These people are picky. They want "Museum Quality."
The "Canadian" Tag Factor
There is one semi-rare version of many Beanies, including some from the late 90s. Some were released in Canada with a "dual" tush tag to comply with Canadian labeling laws. These tags are a bit longer and have extra text. While it doesn't make the Beanie a "gold mine," it does make it more collectible than the standard US version.
Actionable Steps for Your March 11th Beanie
Don't just let it sit there if you're curious. Here is how you actually handle a Beanie Baby you think might be worth something:
- Search "Sold" Listings, Not "Active" Ones: Go to eBay. Type in "Honks Beanie Baby March 11." Filter by "Sold Items." This shows you what people actually paid, not what some dreamer is asking for.
- Protect the Tag: If the tag is still mint, put a plastic tag protector on it. You can buy these for pennies. A damaged tag on a common Beanie makes it a "play toy" rather than a "collectible."
- Check for "Oddities": Does it have a completely different name on the tush tag than the swing tag? Is it missing its beak? Real factory defects (not just common typos) are where the actual $50–$100 prices live.
- Enjoy the Nostalgia: Honestly? The best value of a March 11th Beanie is usually the memory. It’s a piece of the 90s. It’s a reminder of a time when we all thought stuffed animals were better than the stock market.
If you're holding onto Honks hoping to buy a house, you're probably going to be disappointed. But if you're holding onto him because he's a quirky grey goose with a specific birthday, he's a great little piece of history to have on your shelf.
Before you list yours online, take a high-quality photo of the front and back of both tags. Most buyers will ask for this immediately to verify the "generation" and the "pellet type." Knowing these details beforehand puts you ahead of 90% of the other people trying to sell their old toy collections.