More than 95 million "adoptions" have occurred since 1978 - and some of the very first Little People are reportedly worth up to $20,000 each to collectors.
Margaret Strong, Director of Corporate Communications for OAA/BabyLand General Hospital in Cleveland, says the demand for the dolls, however, soon exceeded Roberts' ability to produce them.
"As he started going to art shows and different places, they began to become very popular," Strong said during a taping for an appearance on Northeast Georgia This Week Sunday on WDUN NEWS TALK 550.
So, in 1982, he struck a deal with Coleco for the mass-production of the dolls and their name was changed to Cabbage Patch Kids. They were the "must have" item at Christmas in 1983. Strong says hand-stitched dolls are still available but only at BabyLand General.
"We call them the original hand-sitched babies and we are actually the only place that you can adopt an original Cabbage Patch Kid," Strong said. She says each doll, even those that are mass-produced, is still an "individual," with his or her own "personalities" and traits and name.
Throughout their history, the Cabbage Patch Kids have been into space, in 1985, aboard a NASA shuttle; named the official mascot of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team; and chosen for an appearance on a U.S. Postage Stamp in 1999.
To mark the 25th anniversary, a special birthday party is planned in Cleveland at BabyLand General September 20. In addition, a 25th Anniversary Special Delivery Edition of the doll is being produced - each hand-signed by Roberts and containing the 25th anniversary logo.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/9/173836