Boomers: 8 Items From Your Childhood That Could Be Worth Money

Before the first baby boomers burst onto the scene in 1946, the U.S. toy and game industry occupied a tiny slice of the U.S. economy. Annual toy sales were about $84 million in 1940, according to History.com. But thanks to the boomer effect, that figure had grown to $900 million in 1953, and several billion dollars by the 1960s. Today, some of those boomer-era toys and collectibles are worth a small fortune.

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For example, if you collected baseball cards as a young kid in the early 1950s (and kept them in good condition), they could make you a millionaire. A professionally graded, mint condition Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card issued in 1952 sold for $12.6 million in 2022. Even in poor condition, that same card can still fetch more than $20,000, according to the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) website.

If you’re a boomer who held on to some of your favorite childhood possessions , here are eight items that could be worth a lot of money today.

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Mattel Ponytail Barbie

The iconic doll remains a powerful cultural and economic force more than 60 years after it first hit the shelves. The No. 1 and No. 2 Ponytail Vintage Barbie dolls debuted on March 9, 1959, USA Today reported . The former is the more valuable of the two because it’s hard to find one in top condition. A 1959 No. 1 Ponytail Barbie sold for $27,450 in 2006, and is likely worth much more than that now. A regular first edition Barbie from 1959 in good shape is worth at least $8,000, according to Good Housekeeping .

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Vintage Records

Vinyl records became massive sellers during the 1950s and ’60s thanks to the rise of 45-RPM singles and 33-RPM albums, along with the emergence of global stars like Elvis Presley and The Beatles. An original copy of “Meet the Beatles” is listed for $5,000 on Etsy . If you have a bunch of old records in good condition from your childhood, they could make you very rich.

PEZ Dispensers

PEZ dispensers valued by collectors, such as a 1955 Santa Claus Head dispenser, could be worth thousands of dollars. As Good Housekeeping noted, a dispenser known as the “Astronaut B” created for the 1982 World’s Fair sold on eBay for $32,000.

Hasbro G.I. Joe

This was a must-have toy for kids beginning in the mid-1960s. The “first doll for boys” was modeled after a soldier and came with various accessories, USA Today reported. A 1964 G.I. Joe prototype sold for $200,000 in the early 2000s, and is likely worth a lot more than that now. Even if you don’t have a prototype, an early G.I. Joe in mint condition is worth a lot of money today.

Sports Trading Cards

The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle is the holy grail of boomer-era sports cards, but it’s not the only one worth a lot of money. You’ll find plenty of cards from the 1950s and ’60s worth many thousands of dollars — even those rated below mint condition. For example, a 1963 Topps Pete Rose Rookie Stars card graded PSA 8 on a scale of 10 sold for $15,000, according to the Card Ladder website . A 1954 Topps Willie Mays graded PSA 8 sold for $9,300.

Hot Wheels

Here’s another iconic 1960s toy that can fetch a lot of money if you have the right one. A 1969 Hot Wheels Beach Bomb prototype with rear loading surfboards is worth an estimated $150,000, according to USA Today. Only 144 of these prototypes were ever made.

Vintage Easy-Bake Oven

One of the most popular toys of the 1960s let children bake their own treats using the power of a pair of lightbulbs. Vintage models in good condition can fetch around $150, according to Good Housekeeping.

Lite Brite

As Good Housekeeping noted, this toy was first marketed in 1967 and allowed kids to create glowing art by fitting small, colored plastic pegs into an illuminated board. Full sets from the 1970s are worth $100 or more.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Boomers: 8 Items From Your Childhood That Could Be Worth Money