If you were around in the late nineties, you remember the fever. People weren't just buying stuffed animals; they were investing in "retirement funds" made of polyester pellets and PVC. Among the sea of neon bears and sparkly cats, one specific date stands out for a very orange, very festive little guy. We’re talking about Pumkin, the October 29th Beanie Baby.
Most people see a pumpkin-themed toy and assume it’s a Halloween release. It is. But in the world of Ty Warner and the secondary market, dates are everything. October 29, 1998, isn’t just a birthday on a tush tag. It represents a specific era of the Beanie craze where Ty was transitioning between different manufacturing styles and tag generations. Honestly, if you find one of these in your attic, the first thing you’re going to do is check the date. Why? Because the "birth" of a Beanie Baby often dictates its rarity more than the actual design does.
What’s the Big Deal With the October 29th Beanie Baby?
Let's get the facts straight. Pumkin (yes, spelled without the second 'p') was officially introduced on September 30, 1998. He’s a bright orange pumpkin with a green stem and a classic triangle-cut jack-o'-lantern face. Simple. Cute. But the "birthday" printed inside the heart-shaped swing tag is October 29, 1998.
You’ve probably seen some eBay listings claiming these are worth thousands. Take a breath. They aren't. Not usually.
The misconception comes from the chaos of the 1990s collector market. Back then, rumors spread faster than wildfire in AOL chatrooms. People thought that because Pumkin was retired relatively quickly—he only lived until December 1998—he was an instant gold mine. In reality, while he is a fan favorite, millions were produced. The real value lies in the "errors." If you have a Pumkin where the date is printed differently, or if the tush tag has a specific hologram, that's when things get interesting.
The Evolution of the Pumpkin Design
Ty didn't just stop at one. Following the October 29th Beanie Baby, we saw variations like "Pumkin II" and various Halloween-themed bears. But the 1998 version is the "OG." It used the 5th generation heart tag and either the 6th or 7th generation tush tag.
Collectors look for very specific markers.
- The Tush Tag: Check if there's a red heart or a star.
- The Pellets: PE pellets were the standard by late '98, but finding PVC pellets on certain models can occasionally bump the price for a hardcore completionist.
- The Name: Remember, it's "Pumkin." If you see a "Pumpkin" tag, you’re either looking at a later release or a very odd bootleg.
Why the Secondary Market Lost Its Mind Over Dates
The October 29th Beanie Baby arrived right as the bubble was reaching its peak. By 1998, Ty was a billionaire. Every suburban mom in America had a plastic bin full of these things.
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Here is the thing about the October 29th date: it’s oddly specific. Most Beanies have birthdays that are supposedly "meaningful" to Ty Warner or his staff. Whether it’s a niece's birthday or a significant anniversary, these dates became the DNA of the product. When Pumkin hit the shelves, he was a seasonal must-have. Because he was retired just two months after his "birthday," a lot of people missed out during the initial retail run.
That scarcity—or perceived scarcity—is what drove the prices up to $50, $100, or even $500 in the early 2000s. Today? You can grab a mint condition Pumkin for about five to fifteen bucks. It’s a reality check for the "Beanie Millionaires."
Is It a "Rare" Error?
You’ll see listings for the October 29th Beanie Baby mentioning a "space" in the poem or a "period" missing. Listen, Ty’s factories in China and Indonesia were cranking these out so fast that typos were rampant. A missing period doesn't make you rich. It just means the printer was low on ink or the proofreader was tired.
The only "errors" that actually hold weight in the 2026 collector market are those that are truly unique—like the wrong name on the tag or a completely different fabric color. Even then, you need a certificate of authenticity from a reputable grader like Becky’s Beanie Classics to prove it’s not a "scam-tag" job.
Authentic Features of the 1998 Pumkin
If you are digging through a bin at a garage sale, here is what a genuine October 29th Beanie Baby looks like. The fabric is a specific shade of "vibrant orange" plush. It shouldn't feel scratchy. The eyes are black plastic beads, and the mouth/nose are black felt appliqués.
The poem inside the tag reads:
“Ghosts and goblins are out tonight
But Pumkin is a happy sight
He’d rather play and have some fun
And be a friend to everyone!”
Notice the capitalization and the spacing. If yours looks different, it might be a variation, but it’s likely just a standard production run. There are no known "major" rare variations of Pumkin that have been verified to sell for the "house-deposit" prices you see on clickbait sites.
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The "Ghost" in the Machine
Interestingly, Pumkin was often paired with Spooky, the ghost Beanie Baby. Spooky also had a 1998 release. While Pumkin has the October 29th birthday, Spooky’s birthday is October 31st. Because they were released as a pair, collectors usually want both. If you have the October 29th Beanie Baby without his ghostly counterpart, the set is "incomplete" in the eyes of a serious hobbyist.
Market Realities: Selling Your Collection in 2026
We have to be honest. The market for Beanie Babies is a shadow of its former self. However, there is a massive wave of "nostalgia buying" happening right now. People who grew up in the nineties finally have disposable income and want to reclaim their childhood.
They aren't looking for "investments." They are looking for memories.
The October 29th Beanie Baby is a staple of fall decor. Every October, sales for Pumkin spike on platforms like Mercari and Etsy. People use them for tiered tray displays or as gifts for "October babies."
How to Value Your Pumkin
- Check the Swing Tag: Is it attached? Is it creased? A "naked" Beanie (no tag) is worth almost nothing.
- Tag Protector: If the tag is in a plastic protector, that’s a good sign.
- Smell and Texture: If it’s been in a basement for 30 years and smells like mothballs, the value drops to zero. Collectors want "Museum Quality."
- Sold Listings Only: Don’t look at what people are asking for on eBay. Look at what has actually sold. Sort by "Sold Items" to see the cold, hard cash prices.
Generally, a mint Pumkin with an October 29th birthday sells for $8–$12. If it’s authenticated and cased, maybe $25. The $5,000 listings are usually money laundering or people who are deeply misinformed.
The Legacy of the 1998 Halloween Release
The October 29th Beanie Baby represents more than just a toy. It represents the moment the world went "collectible crazy." It was a precursor to NFTs, to sneaker drops, and to the modern Funko Pop craze.
Pumkin was simple. He wasn't a complex animatronic or a high-tech gadget. He was just a beanbag pumpkin with a specific date that made people feel like they owned a piece of history. Even if the monetary value didn't hold up, the cultural value did.
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Think about it. We are still talking about a stuffed pumpkin thirty years later. That’s branding magic.
What Collectors Get Wrong
Most people think "retired" means "rare." It doesn't.
Ty retired Beanies to create artificial demand. When the October 29th Beanie Baby was retired in December '98, it wasn't because they ran out of fabric. It was because Ty wanted to move on to the next "big thing" for the 1999 lineup. This "forced scarcity" worked beautifully at the time, but it resulted in a massive oversupply of "rare" items that everyone kept in pristine condition.
Since everyone saved their Pumkins, the supply in 2026 is still huge.
Practical Steps for Owners of the October 29th Beanie Baby
If you currently have one of these sitting in a box, don't rush to the bank just yet. But don't throw it away either.
First, verify the tags. Ensure the birthday is indeed October 29, 1998. If the tag says 1997 or 1999, you have a different version entirely. Next, look at the tush tag. Does it have a stamp inside the loop? Some tush tags have a small number stamped inside, indicating which factory it came from. Collectors sometimes hunt for specific factory stamps (like "472" or "400").
If you want to sell, wait until September. No one is looking for a pumpkin in April. Seasonal timing is the best way to get a few extra dollars out of your childhood collection.
Lastly, keep it out of the sun. The orange dye used on the October 29th Beanie Baby is notorious for fading. A "sun-bleached" Pumkin looks more like a peach, and that definitely kills the value.
Final Verification Checklist
- Birthday: October 29, 1998.
- Style Number: 4224.
- Intro Date: September 30, 1998.
- Retire Date: December 23, 1998.
- Pellet Type: PE Pellets (Common) or PVC (Less common).
While it might not fund your retirement, the October 29th Beanie Baby remains an iconic piece of toy history. It’s a reminder of a simpler time when we all thought we were one "rare tag" away from a fortune. Whether you keep it for the nostalgia or sell it for a fancy latte, Pumkin is a permanent resident of the Great Beanie Bubble.
To maximize the potential of your collection, catalog your items using a dedicated tracker and always store them in an airtight, UV-protected container. Keeping the original hang tags flat and uncreased is the single most important factor in maintaining whatever secondary market value remains. For those looking to sell, research specialized Facebook groups dedicated to "90s Nostalgia" rather than general marketplaces, as these niche communities often pay a premium for mint-condition pieces.