If you grew up in the late nineties, you probably remember the plastic tags and the bean-filled obsession that gripped the world. People thought they were buying retirement funds in the shape of plush toys. It was wild. Among those thousands of colorful characters, the November 5 Beanie Baby dates carry a specific weight for collectors, specifically because of a little bear named Scorch.
Most people just see a stuffed animal. Collectors see a birth certificate.
Ty Warner, the eccentric billionaire behind Ty Inc., knew exactly what he was doing when he gave these toys birthdays. It made them human. It made them personal. If you were born on November 5, you had to have that specific dragon or bear. Scorch the Dragon is the most famous member of the November 5 club, and he isn't just some generic lizard. He’s a smoke-colored dragon with iridescent wings that looks like he stepped out of a high-fantasy novel, despite being small enough to fit in a coat pocket.
The Scorch Factor: Why November 5 is Iconic
Scorch was released on September 30, 1998, and stayed in the lineup until he was retired in 1999. His birthday is listed right there inside the "swing tag" as November 5, 1998.
Why does a date matter?
In the secondary market, "birthday" Beanie Babies create a niche demand that transcends the usual rarity tiers. Even if a Beanie isn't worth five figures, someone born on that day will pay a premium for it. Scorch is particularly beloved because of his aesthetic. Unlike the neon-pink bears, Scorch had a "tougher" look. He used a specialized fabric—often called "textured" or "crinkle" fabric—that made his scales feel slightly different from the velvet-smooth fur of a Teddy or a Valentino.
There's also some weirdness with the tags. If you look at a November 5 Beanie Baby like Scorch, you might notice different generations of tags. A 5th generation heart tag is the most common for him. But collectors look for the "tush tag" (the small white label on the bottom) to see if it has a red heart or if it’s a Canadian version with a black and white label.
👉 See also: Black Red Wing Shoes: Why the Heritage Flex Still Wins in 2026
It's Not Just Dragons: Other November 5 Birthdays
While Scorch is the king of the date, he isn't alone in the Ty universe. The company was prolific. They pumped out hundreds of designs, and inevitably, dates overlapped or were reused in different series like Beanie Buddies or the smaller Teenie Beanies.
- Scorch (The OG): Born Nov 5, 1998. He's the primary reason people search for this date.
- Ariel (The Bear): Not the mermaid, but a light blue bear released much later in the 2000s.
- Specific Licensed Characters: Ty eventually started doing licensed work with Disney and Nickelodeon, though these rarely kept the traditional birthday format.
Honestly, the value of a Scorch today isn't going to buy you a house. Don't believe the eBay listings asking for $10,000. Those are usually money laundering schemes or just very hopeful people. A mint condition Scorch with a "mint" tag (no creases!) usually goes for about $10 to $25. Maybe $50 if it’s authenticated by a service like PBBAG or Becky’s True Blue Beans.
It's about the nostalgia.
I remember people going to McDonald's and buying 50 Happy Meals just to get the Teenie version of these toys. It was a fever dream. The November 5 Beanie Baby represents a specific slice of that era where we assigned value to something based on a printed date and a poem.
The Poetry of Scorch
Every Ty tag has a four-line poem. Scorch’s poem reads:
A dragon lives in a far-off land
He’s much too big to fit in your hand
He can burn a tree with just one puff
But he’s really just a big powder puff!✨ Don't miss: Finding the Right Word That Starts With AJ for Games and Everyday Writing
Notice the irony? "Too big to fit in your hand," yet he's a palm-sized plush. Ty Warner loved that kind of tongue-in-cheek writing. It gave the toys personality.
Spotting a Fake (And the "Rare" Tag Error Myth)
You've probably heard that "errors" make Beanies worth millions.
"The tag says 1998 but the tush tag says 1999! It's a rare error!"
Stop. Almost every Scorch has that. It just means the heart tag was printed in one year and the toy was manufactured or labeled in the next. It’s a mass-production reality, not a golden ticket. True errors involve misspelled names on the tag or the wrong fabric being used—like "Lefty" the donkey with the wrong colored flag.
If you are looking for a November 5 Beanie Baby to complete a collection or give as a birthday gift, focus on the "tag protectors." Those little plastic cases are the only reason some of these toys survived the sticky fingers of kids in the nineties. A Scorch without a tag is basically a $2 dog toy.
How to Value Your November 5 Collection
If you find a bin of these in your attic, here is the cold, hard truth about the market in 2026.
🔗 Read more: Is there actually a legal age to stay home alone? What parents need to know
First, check the "swing tag." Is it bent? Is there a price sticker on it? Collectors are brutal. Any imperfection drops the price by 50%. Next, look at the "tush tag." Does it have a "stamp" inside it? Some tags have a small number stamped inside the loop, indicating which factory it came from. Collectors sometimes hunt for specific factory codes like "471" or "104," though this is deep-level nerd stuff.
The November 5 Beanie Baby Scorch is widely available because Ty produced millions of him. He wasn't a limited run like "Chef Robuchon" or "No. 1 Bear." But because he's a dragon, he has cross-over appeal with fantasy fans.
Practical Steps for Owners and Buyers
If you actually want to sell one, or if you're looking to buy one for a November 5 birthday present:
- Ignore "Current Listings" on eBay. Anyone can ask for a million dollars. Filter by "Sold Items" only. That's the real market value.
- Check the Wings. Scorch's wings are made of a holographic material that can flake off if it gets wet or too hot. Make sure the "iridescence" is still smooth.
- Authentication Matters. If you truly think you have a rare prototype version, don't just take a photo and hope for the best. Send it to a professional.
- Displaying is Better Than Hoarding. These toys were made of synthetic materials that can degrade. If you have a Scorch, keep him out of direct sunlight. The gray fabric fades to a weird brownish-yellow if left on a windowsill for too long.
The Beanie Baby bubble burst a long time ago, but the emotional connection to birth dates remains. Whether it’s a gift for a friend born on that day or a piece of your own childhood you’re trying to reclaim, Scorch the Dragon remains the definitive November 5 Beanie Baby. He’s a reminder of a time when the world was a little smaller, and we all believed a plush dragon could be an investment.
If you’re hunting for one, look for the "Gen 5" heart tag. It’s the classic look. Avoid the "Beanie Buddies" (the giant versions) unless you just want something to cuddle; they have almost zero resale value compared to the original "Beanie Babies" line. Keep the tags clean, keep the fabric dry, and enjoy the piece of 1998 history sitting on your shelf.