If You Played POGs, You’re Undoubtedly a '90s Kid

The '90s—what a time to be alive! Hollywood has been capitalizing heavily on our love for this era. From the return of "Animaniacs" to a fresh "Jurassic Park" trilogy and even a much-anticipated "Space Jam" sequel, the nostalgia is real.

(We believe that's totally rad. Seriously, it’s so rad, everyone. Who doesn’t adore "Space Jam"?)

Another '90s pop culture relic, POGs, doesn’t get as much attention these days.

Do you recall those? Remember when Milhouse van Houten essentially sold Bart Simpson's soul for a collection of them? Sadly, much like "The Simpsons," POGs have faded from the spotlight since their peak in the '90s.

Many of us over 30 might need a quick reminder. If the term "POGs" sounds familiar but you’ve forgotten their purpose, origin, or why schools began prohibiting them, this article will bring you up to speed.

What Are POGs?

According to some sources, the history of POGs traces back to ancient times in Japan. Menko, a Japanese card game, is believed to have emerged during the Kamakura Period, spanning from 1185 to 1333 B.C.E.

The traditional version of Menko follows a straightforward concept. One player places a card down, and the other attempts to flip it by throwing their card at it. If successful, the thrower collects both cards.

During the late 19th century, many Japanese immigrants arrived in the Hawaiian Islands. It’s speculated that Menko might have influenced a comparable game known as "milk caps."

Widespread in the early 1900s, this inexpensive children’s activity involved stacking bottle caps vertically. Players would then take turns throwing a heavier object (called a "kini" or "slammer") at the stack, claiming any caps that landed face-up.

"The Mother of POGs"

The term "POG" originates from Haleakala Dairy, located on Maui, Hawaii. In the 1970s, they introduced a mixed juice drink called "Passionfruit-Orange-Guava," abbreviated as "POG," named after its key ingredients.

While the drink is now sold in cartons, it was initially bottled with cardboard caps. These caps became ideal for a modernized version of the milk caps game.

Blossom Galbiso (1949-1994), a beloved teacher and guidance counselor, is fondly known as "the Mother of POGs." By the time she joined Waialua Elementary School in Oahu, Hawaii, the milk caps game had nearly disappeared.

In 1991, she brought back this classic pastime to her students, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Milk caps quickly became a sensation once more, spreading beyond Waialua Elementary. "The beauty of it is that they [students] stopped playing the rougher games on the playground," Galbiso told reporters. She added, "It’s a non-sexist game. Both boys and girls can play, and it teaches rules."

However, some adjustments were needed. Milk bottles, which earlier generations used, were less common in the 1990s. As a result, kids began using POG juice caps instead.

The World POG Federation

While Galbiso is celebrated as the Mother of POGs, it was Alan Rypinski who propelled them to worldwide fame.

Haleakala Dairy didn’t produce its own bottle caps; those were made by Stanpac, a Canadian company. Inspired by Galbiso’s efforts, Stanpac saw an opportunity to profit in Hawaii’s toy market by selling its juice caps as game pieces.

Rypinski, a California entrepreneur, learned about this trend. In 1993, he acquired the "POG" trademark from Haleakala and established the World POG Federation (WPF).

That’s when POGs took off. Through aggressive marketing, the WPF transformed POGs into a multimillion-dollar phenomenon, making them the latest playground obsession on the American mainland.

The game’s popularity stemmed partly from its simple rules, which any child could easily grasp.

How to Play POG

The game of POGs, as it’s widely known, relies on two essential components.

First, you need the iconic POG caps. These are cardboard discs roughly the size of a U.S. half dollar. Each cap has two sides: one is typically plain, while the other features a vibrant logo, design, or image. This decorated side is referred to as the "face."

After gathering your caps, you’ll need a "slammer." These heavier discs, often made of plastic, rubber, or metal, may look plain compared to the caps, but they’re just as crucial to the game.

The gameplay closely mirrors the traditional "milk caps" rules. Here’s a quick summary of how it works:

Why POGs Eventually Failed

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s revisit Rypinski and his World POG Federation.

Describing POGs’ popularity as explosive would be an understatement. In February 1993, the WPF hosted the inaugural U.S. National POG Tournament. Within a year, the game had reached the East Coast, becoming a playground staple from Maryland to California.

Rypinski understood that POG caps were essentially collectible business cards. The WPF secured licensing agreements with nearly every major brand imaginable. Kids were soon playing with McDonald's POGs, Ninja Turtles POGs, National Hockey League POGs, and more.

Even the Catholic Church joined the trend. On September 16, 1995, The New York Times reported that the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, had commissioned 50,000 POGs featuring Pope John Paul II's face.

However, the POG craze couldn’t last forever. Rypinski and his team were criticized for flooding the market with an overwhelming number of POG variations. Additionally, by the mid-'90s, parents began voicing their concerns.

In the past, when kids played POGs, they often played for keeps. Bringing your favorite caps to school meant risking losing them to another student who flipped them during recess.

This naturally led to conflicts. Many teachers viewed the game as disruptive and uncomfortably similar to gambling, leading to POGs being banned in schools across the country.

By the 21st century, POGs had clearly fallen out of favor. As Boy’s Life magazine noted in a 1998 issue, POGs were already considered a passing trend. Still, the memories remain.