Candy History, Nostalgic Candy Favorites

Candy History: Cracker Jacks

October 31, 2013 by

A Man and His Popcorn

popcorn-cracker-jacks2Nothing screams Americana quite like the 7th inning stretch and a box of Cracker Jacks. But would you believe this time-tested snack was created by a German immigrant and debuted not at the ballpark, but at the World’s Fair? The story of this American candy classic is an interesting one, indeed.

Frederick William Rueckheim had been selling popcorn on the streets of Chicago for years, when, in 1893, he came up with a new popcorn creation for the Chicago World’s Fair. When his brother Louis arrived from Germany, they established the F.W. Rueckheim & Bro. company to sell their popcorn together.

What is a Cracker Jack?

In 1896 the name Cracker Jack was officially registered (before then the snack had been called candied popcorn and peanuts) and the familiarly sticky and sweet candy we know today was born.

Back in the day, the term “cracker jack” could refer to anything of high quality, so it’s no wonder the name stuck! The coining of the name, however, was just the first of many big steps for this candy favorite.

Out of Left Field

Henry Gottlieb Eckstein’s invention of the “Eckstein Triple Proof Bag” in 1899 made him the perfect business partner for the Rueckheim brothers. And, in 1902, the company became Rueckheim Bros & Eckstein.

cracker-jack-retroBut it would take six more years before Cracker Jacks came into their own. In 1908, Jack Norworth penned the infamous lines of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” that shot Cracker Jacks into the limelight. Since then, no baseball game has been complete without at least one box of the crunchy, sweet treat.

Changes came to the company, fast and furious, as Cracker Jacks grew in popularity. In 1912 Rueckheim Bros & Eckstein began adding tiny prizes to each box of Cracker Jacks. Candy and toys? These guys really knew what would sell. The face of Cracker Jacks got another boost in 1918, when Sailor Jack and his dog Bingo were added to the packaging.

The endearing duo was apparently based on Rueckheim’s grandson and dog. But, I’d say it’s probably not a coincidence that they appeared at the end of the 1st World War. A patriotic move, if I do say so myself.

A Home Run

cracker-jacks-originalFour years later, the company underwent another name change, this time becoming The Cracker Jack Company. This name lasted through much of the 20th century, until Borden bought it in 1964.

Today, Cracker Jacks are made by Frito-Lay. They’re still a fan favorite at baseball games, enchanting the young and the young-at-heart as they have for decades. So while the prizes may have changed over the years, you can be sure that the candy inside hasn’t changed a bit.

——

Sources:

  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_Jack
  • http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcrackerjacks.htm
  • http://www.delish.com/food-fun/cracker-jack-history-snack-foods#slide-2

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31 Comments

  • Reply Madeline McKenna April 25, 2017 at 5:53 pm

    LOve the story of Cracker Jacks. I just recently had a very hard time finding BOXES of Cracker Jacks for my Grandson’s 13th BIrthday…….And YES, He is an awesome Baseball Player. The party consisted of Peanuts, Popcorn and Bags of Cracker Jacks from our local Baseball Stadium “The Diamond” in Richmond, Va. Home of the FLYING SQUIRRELS!!! Party included, Big League Chew, Sunflower Seeds, Baseball Cards and of course Hot Dogs!

  • Reply When Cracker Jacks had to Throw out the Toy … – FDA Storytime October 5, 2017 at 10:40 pm

    […] Starting 1912 Cracker Jacks consisted of three items: caramel covered popcorn and peanuts, and a toy. Currently the toy is placed in a plastic wrapper and then included in the popcorn and peanut mixture. This was not always the case and in the 1940s the toy (metal or plastic) was placed directly into contact with the food. […]

  • Reply Goin Strong April 9, 2018 at 3:42 pm

    There has NEVER been a candy/confection with the name “Cracker Jacks.” The name, for 125 years, has been “Cracker Jack.” One need only read the wrapper on the box.

    Sports venues around the country post it incorrectly, as does this website. It’s a pity so little attention is paid to accuracy.

  • Reply Frederick Earls June 3, 2018 at 3:40 pm

    Frederick E.
    I have loved cracker Jack
    Since I was a kid.
    Lots times we couldn’t afford treats because our father wouldn’t give us money and eventually left our family.
    But these Candy 🌽 Pops brought a smile to my face.

    Thank you,
    Cracker Jack.

  • Reply Chase Rogers September 6, 2018 at 8:50 pm

    I grew up with Cracker Jack during World War II. When we could afford a treat, my sister and I would share a box. Sadly, she died many years ago, but Sailor Jack and Bingo remain as pleasant memories.
    Chase

  • Reply Geno September 16, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    Just the name Cracker Jacks brings a tear to my eyes. What great memories. THANK YOU CRACKER JACKS

  • Reply Phillipa morris February 15, 2019 at 10:50 pm

    I have a cracker jack sailor its over 25 or 30 years old I want to see what its worth might consider selling it it was my cracker jack prize a long time ago

  • Reply Sandra August 19, 2019 at 8:23 pm

    I loved those toys in the box!!! Who cares if it wasn’t wrapped…I’am very old, I still love Cracker Jacks! I miss the toys😢

  • Reply G October 3, 2019 at 2:26 am

    There is no S in Cracker Jack. Never has been. Read the box.
    Good snack though.

  • Reply Justine November 6, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    What does it matter if one says “cracker jacks” instead of “cracker jack” theyre simply making it plural. My name is Justine and plural would be Justine’s.. But when someone uses the plural version in a sentence I’m going to say “that is not my name! It is Justine! One simply should read my birth certificate!” I hope I have proven my point.

  • Reply William N Reviel March 7, 2020 at 5:01 pm

    The name was created at the Chicago world fair when a sailor tried it and exclaimed in surprise That’s a cracker Jack. Jack being the equivalent of buddy or dude. The two brothers selling it at the fair looked at each other, winked, looked back at the sailor and said why yes it is. At that world fair Tesla was electrifying all the lighting and the zipper was also presented for the first time. It’s the most written and talked about fair of all time surprised so many are getting such different versions of the cracker Jack history.

  • Reply Errol ALexander March 28, 2020 at 5:23 pm

    Love the story and the memories associated with Crackers Jacks….I was on a class trip to CLeveland Art museum and was left behind . I was studing a Picasso and did not follow the class as it moved through the museum I was awaken from looking at the painting by old man who was the secuirty guard. He asked the name of my grade school when I answered he told me come along with him and he took me back to his office area where he gave me a package of Crackers Jacks….the orize with a Green metal frog which clicked when you
    squeezed it ..best day of my life until
    that time drove everyone on the school bus wacky with the noise

  • Reply Angela Brown June 18, 2020 at 10:15 am

    What a horriblely offensive name! Cracker jack! Change it, try being more sensitive to white folks.

  • Reply Greg Rabon June 19, 2020 at 1:38 am

    They have lost their minds. This crap called political correctness has gone TOO FAR!! I’m 62, white and male and I grew up with Cracker Jack. If you make this change, people are going to protest by not buying your product. I’m white and it doesn’t offend me, black kids called me a cracker all my school years. I didn’t take offense because I am white. You’re taking this too far and you’ll see your sales plummet.

  • Reply Ames June 23, 2020 at 7:27 am

    I was born in 1982. Always loved cra ker Jack since I’ve been a wee boy. I am eating a box as I write this.

  • Reply Margaret Witham July 20, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    Angela Brown
    How about calling them Honkie Heaven

  • Reply David L Smith August 14, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    I surprised Frederick “Fritz” William Rueckheim isn’t rolling over in his grave at the horrible Frito-Lay version of Cracker Jacks. They are NOT anything like the Cracker Jacks I grew up with in the late 1960’s thru 1980’s. Borden did a much better job with them. Frito-Lay reformulated the recipe and ruined them. And there is hardly any peanuts in the box anymore (even though they claimed they were adding more in 2013), or as much caramel. I’m lucky if I find half a dozen peanuts. Fiddle Faddle and Crunch ‘n Munch versions are closer to the original Cracker Jacks, and much more peanuts, so sad. 2013 was also when they stopped putting prizes in the boxes, that paper crap just isn’t as fun.

  • Reply Denise August 25, 2020 at 4:34 pm

    I think this changing the name of brand’s cuz it’s offensive is B.S. I have never heard anyone complaining cuz it offended them ever. A lot and I mean a lot of these brands have been around for over 100 years plus. So I think people need to grow up if your offended cuz of a name of a product shame on your parents for the way the raised you. Because I was raised to love each other no mater what color they were. It’s not the color of skin that maters it should be what’s in in their heart and soul that you should be worring about.

  • Reply Dandell2@comcast.net November 30, 2020 at 10:03 pm

    Lol

  • Reply Alice reagle January 22, 2021 at 8:27 pm

    Ok just thought you might want to know that I have been craving Cracker jacks and I can rarely find a bag. It seems the delivery trucks never leave much around this area. Every time I go to my Dollar store
    Or our Grocery or the wallmart, I look for them yet not there. Just thought you might solve this problem.
    Thanks alice

  • Reply Tiphaine Brewer August 2, 2021 at 12:31 am

    Singular or plural, Cracker Jack doesn’t have an “s”. Similar to deer…you don’t say deers when it is plural.

  • Reply Robert Allen September 25, 2021 at 4:50 am

    Times are moving away from electroincs.. I’m 71 and eating Cracker Jack all the time.. Cheap Fruito-Lay should bring back a real toy… The paper thing is simply tossed away by most… Amazing what corporate USA will do to make a buck on the backs of Jacks…

  • Reply Marilyn Winn November 6, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    I still eat cracker jacks and love them Iam 58 and can say I will always eat them my mom used to buy them for us eight kids when I was growing up the prizes were the best wish they would bring nice prizes back it’s something that will always be in my heart I know Cracker Jack will truly go down in history in years to come.

  • Reply Mick Russom April 9, 2022 at 6:31 am

    The current recipe for Cracker Jack is garbage. There is no prize, the box is gone and now its these trash bags barely any peanuts and the recipe is garbage – the caramel is fake. Its not even made in the USA anymore. It says made for Frito Lay in Plano TX, but its made in Mexico. The original recipe used real sugar and actually had some peanuts and tasted much better. Borden did a great job with Cracker Jack and Frito Lay is a stinking Larry Fink Blackrock ESG score woke trash company selling low-quality genetically modified ingredients and destroying our food, our history and our brands.

  • Reply Kelly Krajewski March 1, 2023 at 7:44 pm

    Are you kidding me? This has to be a joke regarding the issue of being offended of the name? I’m laughing reading this. Sadly the same concept changed the name Aunt Jemima to Pearl Milling Co. Really? When does it end? Pull up your big girl panties and get over it.

  • Reply Kelly Krajewski March 1, 2023 at 7:46 pm

    Are you kidding me? This has to be a joke regarding the issue of being offended of the name? I’m laughing reading this. Sadly the same concept changed the name Aunt Jemima to Pearl Milling Co. Really? When does it end? Pull up your big girl panties and get over it.

    • Reply Jonah Half March 6, 2023 at 1:20 pm

      Thanks for the kind words! WE try to add hard-to-find and cool retro products as much as possible. The good news is that supply issues seem to be easing, which means more fun products from which to choose!

  • Reply Al Wesson April 2, 2023 at 9:05 pm

    My wife and I share a bag with our yellow lab at night when first getting in bed. ELi the dog loves them. And so do we and have for more than 60 years. Thanks Frito-Lay for keeping the brand alive for the new generation.

  • Reply James D. Mari June 15, 2023 at 5:58 pm

    Eat just a bit of my bag of Cracker Jacks and saved the prize to open later. My wife & granddaughter bought them to me from The Mets stadium on Tuesday night; the Yankees won. I told them on the phone to be sure they bought and eat a box of Cracker Jack, but they bought them to me instead. I bet my first box of ‘Jacks’ was at the ball park in San Diego, CA at a Padres game in 1949 when I was 7 years old.

  • Reply RK November 14, 2023 at 6:36 pm

    Being offended is the result of not knowing history, at least in this case. This is a victim in search of an “attack.” Hopefully, Frito-Lay will stand up to the “victims” and preserve this American icon. Even if you can’t find as many peanuts as you used to, or anything as cool as a clicker toy to drive your sisters and mother crazy.

  • Reply Debra Bruce January 22, 2024 at 10:05 pm

    I loved Cracker Jack’s when I was growing up. Now living in Australia and never seen them here. What a pity…a great product with a cute little prize

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