The Cubs were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) team to offer Beanie Babies as a promotional giveaway. In fact, H. Ty Warner threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the first promotional game. After two successful game day promotions on May 18 and September 6, 1997 , Ty and the Cubs partnered up to raise funds through a charitable raffle at their 13th Annual Cubs Convention on January 16-18, 1998. Each January, the Cubs hold a special gathering for fans of the team. For this raffle, 100 randomly selected winners were presented with Cubbie the bear and a special commemorative card. The commemorative card reads: “Cubbie’s 1st Convention” and has the official date of the convention.
FACTOID: In all, four seperate Cubbie the bear promotions were held through the Chicago Cubs. A record for an individual Beanie Baby at one single sports organization.
On January 15-17, 1999, the 14th Annual Cubs Convention was held in Chicago. At this convention, two special charitable prizes were available. First, attendees were able to purchase a $5 raffle for a chance at one of only 100 Sammy bears with a commemorative card. The card reads: Sammy’s 1st Convention” and has the event’s official date.
In conjunction with the Sammy raffle, Cubbie’s 2nd charitable fundraiser was held. The corresponding commemorative card dubbed it: “Cubbie’s 2nd Convention.” Unlike the raffle, the beanie was given to anyone who donated $50 or more to Cubs Care, the team’s charitable organization. Any convention attendee that opted to make a donation received one of these special bears.
FACTOID: The only two “game day” Beanie Baby promotions held in at 1998 Cubs games were Daisy and Gracie.
On Wednesday August 11, 1999, the Cubs gave out 500 Neon Beanie Babies to the passengers of the 1999 Cubs Cares Cruise. To accompany the Beanie Baby, a corresponding commemorative card was also given out. The cruise was held on Navy Pier and benefitted the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation (Cubs Cares Charities). Unlike the Cubs Convention Beanie Babies, Cubs Cares Neon rarely appears in Ty-related official checklists or publications. The Neon promotion seems to have “gone under the radar” of most collectors. See pictures.
FACTOID: There were three “game day” Cubs Beanie Baby promotions held in 1999: Sammy, Erin, Millenium. By the end of 1999, the Cubs organization had seen 11 Beanie Baby promotions.
