So, you’ve probably heard the stories about people making a fortune off a small bean-filled plush toy. It’s a bit of a cliché by now. But when it comes to the September 19 Beanie Baby, things get weirdly specific. We aren't just talking about a generic toy here; we are talking about a very particular set of birthdays—namely, those belonging to Arnie the Bear and Punt the Pumpkin.
Most people assume the value of a Beanie Baby is all about the "First Generation" hang tags or the rarity of the fabric. Honestly? That’s only half the story. The real obsession for deep-cut collectors often boils down to the date printed inside that little heart-shaped tag. September 19 isn't just a random Tuesday in autumn; in the world of Ty Warner, it’s a date that triggers a lot of nostalgia and, occasionally, some really confusing eBay listings.
Why the September 19 Birthday Matters More Than You Think
If you flip open the swing tag of Arnie the Bear, you’ll see it: September 19, 1997.
Arnie is this chunky, cream-colored bear with a brown ribbon. He isn't the rarest bear in the world—he’s no #1 Bear or Royal Blue Peanut—but he represents a specific era of the Ty craze. By 1997, the Beanie Baby fever was at an absolute fever pitch. Ty Warner was prints money. Collectors were stalking delivery trucks. And in the middle of that madness, Arnie was born.
But here is where it gets tricky.
Collectors don't just want Arnie. They want the Arnie that proves he was part of a specific production run. Because Ty was notorious for "retiring" toys to drive up demand, a September 19 birthday on a tag can sometimes be the difference between a toy that sits in a thrift store bin and one that a serious hobbyist actually wants for their "birthday set." Some people spend years trying to collect a Beanie for every single day of the calendar year. For them, September 19 is a missing puzzle piece.
The Mystery of Punt the Pumpkin
Then there’s Punt.
Punt is a pumpkin. Well, a pumpkin with a face. Released in 1998, Punt also shares that September 19 birthday. Now, if you look at the secondary market today, you’ll see Punt listed for anywhere from $5 to $5,000.
Let’s be real: Punt is rarely worth $5,000.
The "September 19 Beanie Baby" phenomenon is often fueled by what we call "hoax listings." You’ve probably seen them. A seller on a major marketplace claims a "rare error" on a September 19 tag—maybe a typo in the poem or an extra space in the date—and asks for the price of a mid-sized sedan.
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Don't fall for it.
The value of these items isn't in a "secret error" that only one person discovered. The value is in the condition of the tush tag and the hang tag. If you have a Punt or an Arnie with a September 19 birthday, and the tag is creased? It’s a toy. If it’s encased in a plastic "tag protector" and the hologram on the tush tag is flawless? Now we are talking.
The Collector’s "Birthday Set" Obsession
Why do people care about the date so much?
It's personal.
I’ve talked to people who spent three months hunting down a September 19 Beanie Baby just because it was their daughter's birthday. In the late 90s, Ty realized that by giving these toys birthdays, they weren't just selling plushies—they were selling milestones.
- Arnie (The Bear): Released January 1, 1998. Retired December 31, 1998.
- Punt (The Pumpkin): Released September 30, 1998. Retired December 31, 1998.
Both had incredibly short lifespans. They were "seasonal" or "limited," which meant if you missed that September 19 window, you were out of luck. That short production window is exactly why these specific toys still pop up in search results today. People remember the scramble.
Identifying a Real "September 19" Treasure
If you’re digging through a bin at a garage sale and see that September 19 date, your heart might skip a beat. But before you start planning your retirement, you need to check the "Gen."
Beanie Babies are categorized by "Generations." Most Arnie bears are 5th Generation hang tags. This means the "Ty" logo on the front is a bit thinner and has a star. If you find one that somehow deviates from the standard 5th Gen look, you might actually have something unique.
The poem inside Arnie’s tag reads:
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Arnie is a cozy bear
He has a lot of soft, tan hair
He’s very cute and likes to play
He’ll keep you warm on a cold day!
It’s simple. It’s classic Ty. But if that poem has a weird spacing issue—like a double space between "Arnie" and "is"—collectors might pay a slight premium. We aren't talking "buy a house" money, but maybe "nice steak dinner" money.
The "Error Tag" Myth That Won't Die
We have to address the elephant in the room. Or the bear in the room.
There is a massive amount of misinformation regarding the September 19 Beanie Baby and "errors." You’ll see listings claiming that a "Gasport" typo (instead of Gosport, UK) makes a September 19 bear worth thousands.
Here is the truth: Almost all tags from that era had the Gosport/Gasport discrepancy or the "Oakbrook" (should be Oak Brook) spacing issue.
Ty produced millions of these. Millions.
A typo isn't rare if it happened ten million times. What actually makes a September 19 Beanie valuable is the combination of a pristine tag, a lack of a stamp inside the tush tag (indicating it wasn't mass-mass-produced in later batches), and the "Indonesian" vs. "Chinese" PVC pellets.
Generally, Beanie Babies stuffed with PE pellets are less valuable than those stuffed with PVC pellets. Check the tush tag. If it says "PVC Pellets" and has that September 19 birthday, you’re holding the "preferred" version of the toy.
How to Sell or Buy a September 19 Beanie Today
If you’re looking to offload one, or maybe you’re the person trying to complete a birthday set, stop looking at "Asking Prices" on eBay. Anyone can ask for $10,000.
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Look at Sold Listings.
You will find that most September 19 Arnies or Punts sell for between $10 and $45. Occasionally, a Mint-in-Box version or one authenticated by a service like Beckett or Peggy Gallagher might fetch $100+.
Authentification is the gold standard. If you think you have a September 19 Beanie Baby that is truly "one of a kind," don't just take a blurry photo and put it on Facebook Marketplace. Get it authenticated. A plastic case with a graded score transforms a dusty toy into a financial asset.
Why the 9/19 Date Persists in Pop Culture
There’s a weird bit of synchronicity with September 19. It’s also "International Talk Like a Pirate Day." While Ty never officially linked Arnie or Punt to pirates, the date has become a sort of "lucky charm" for people who grew up in the 90s.
It represents the peak of the Beanie era—just before the bubble burst in 1999. By the time 1999 rolled around, the market was oversaturated. But in late '97 and '98, when Arnie and Punt were being stamped with their September 19 birthdays, the dream was still alive. People genuinely thought these were the new gold standard.
That nostalgia is a powerful drug. It's why, thirty years later, we are still talking about a bear named Arnie.
Moving Forward With Your Collection
If you've got a September 19 Beanie Baby, here is what you actually need to do to see if it's worth anything. First, check the tush tag for a red stamp. If there is a number inside the tush tag (like a 400 or 450), it means it was mass-produced. No stamp is usually better. Second, look at the "Ty" logo. It should be bright, not faded.
Don't get discouraged if yours isn't worth a fortune. The joy of the September 19 Beanie Baby isn't just in the resale value; it's in the weird, specific history of a time when the whole world went crazy for beans and fabric.
Keep your tags protected. Use acid-free plastic covers. And most importantly, stop believing every high-priced listing you see on the internet. The "September 19" craze is a mix of genuine collector interest and a lot of internet tall tales. Knowing the difference is what makes you an expert.
Practical Next Steps for Collectors:
- Check the Pellets: Look at the tush tag to see if it lists PVC or PE pellets; PVC is typically more desirable for 1997-1998 models.
- Verify the Hang Tag: Ensure it is a 5th Generation tag (with the star) to match the Arnie/Punt production timeline.
- Search "Sold" History: Always filter by "Sold" on auction sites to see what people are actually paying, rather than what sellers are dreaming of.
- Inspect the Birthday: Confirm the date is clearly printed as September 19—faded ink can significantly drop the "Birthday Set" value.
- Storage: If the toy is mint, move it to a cool, dry place away from sunlight to prevent the "tan" fabric of Arnie from fading into a dull yellow.