Cracker Jack Are Not Just Fun to Eat

As a kid there was nothing more fun to eat than Cracker Jacks. Whether it was in front of a television or during a baseball game, the sweet popcorn and peanuts were a special treat. To many people, however, it was not about the fun food. It was about the prize inside.

The fun prizes you opened up in a box of Cracker Jacks ranged from mysterious puzzles to plastic toys. Each one was fun, but after a while most ended up in the trash.

If only I knew that saving them could mean a big treasure in our future, I would be rich.

Cracker Jacks was invented in 1912 by F. W. Rueckheim.

Anything associated with the snacks are collectible including old boxes, advertisements and figurines featuring Sailor Jack and his dog Bingo. Sailor Jack and Bingo were introduced during World War I on boxes with the colors of red, white and blue. Boxes from those days are worth over $100 each depending on condition.

But, the most valuable of all things from Cracker Jacks were baseball cards that came as prizes. They were about 2 by 3 ½” and a set from 1914 featured such players as Honus Wagner, Shoeless Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb. Sets from 1914 and 1915 are worth around $100,000.

Most of us are way too young to get those goodies, but items from the 1940-60s also hold a good value.

Do you remember tin clickers? They are worth about $25 apiece. Paper whistles are valued about $35 each and rare items like an Indian headdress go for over $209. Comic character discs go for about $15, a tin 3-D bank is valued over $100. A metal miniature grandfather clock can be worth up to $100 while Halloween masks go for almost $20 apiece.

There are several books available detailing prices and what to look for. Of course condition is important and items still in their original paper are even more valuable.

Age is still important with a Model T Ford tin toy from 1916 worth around $700 and a horse drawn wagon from the 1930 worth about $300.

New collectors of Cracker Jack items are always arising and when the economy rises, values will go even higher.

Paper items are often rare as well because they were easily lost of wrinkled. A baseball score book is worth almost $100 and movie pull tabs range around the $75 mark,

Most of the least valued toys are plastic. Assorted animals from the 1950s are about $5 each. Whistles can go as high as $10. But, most are worth $1-$2 each.

Toys you get today are virtually worthless for the major collector. But, like everything else, could be worth a million dollars one day.

The best place to look for Cracker Jack collector items would be on eBay. There are certainly a lot of the early baseball cards on there and they are asking a pretty penny. Cards from 2004 are also available for around $1. I also found a vintage Sailor Jack stuffed doll from 1974 going around $25 and a lot of whistles for under $10.

Take a good look around and see what you can find. Collect what you can and when the price is right, don’t be afraid to sell.

In the meantime, enjoy eating the caramel popcorn and search for the prize inside.


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