I can still remember the sound. It was a distinct, satisfying clack followed by a soft rustle. That was the sound of a heavy metal Pog Slammers hitting a neat stack of pogs, sending them scattering across the school playground. For a few glorious years in the early 1990s, pockets weren’t for carrying money; they were for carrying your prized collection of pogs and that one, perfect slammer you trusted with all your heart. If you lived through it, you know the feeling. If you missed it, let me tell you, it was a cultural moment. Today, we are going to take a deep dive into the heart of that game: the mighty pog slammer. We will explore what they are, their wild history, the different types you could find, and whether those old slammers sitting in your attic are worth anything today.
What Are Pog Slammers? The Basics Explained
Before we get into the fancy stuff, let us start with the absolute basics. What exactly is a pog slammer?
The game of pogs is played with two things: the pogs themselves (the small, cardboard-like discs), and the slammer. Think of the pogs as the battlefield and the slammer as your weapon. A stack of pogs is placed face-down. Players take turns throwing the slammer—typically in an arcing motion—down onto the stack. The goal is to use the slammer to flip over as many pogs as possible. Any pogs that land face-up are yours to keep. The player with the most pogs at the end wins.
So, the slammer is the tool you use to “slam” the stack. It is a heavier, thicker disc, specifically designed for impact. While pogs were often made of cardboard or a thin plastic, slammers were built to be sturdy. They were the power piece, the one that felt substantial in your hand. Choosing your slammer was a personal decision. Some kids preferred the brute force of a thick metal one, while others liked the control of a lighter plastic model. Your slammer was your identity on the playground.
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A Blast from the Past: The Unlikely History of Pogs
To really understand the slammer, we have to talk about the game itself. The story of pogs is a fascinating one because it is a story of a toy coming full circle.
The origin of pogs dates back to the 1920s and 1930s in Hawaii, with a game played using the cardboard caps from bottles of milk and juice. The game was originally called “Milk Caps.” The caps came from a brand called Passion Orange Guava juice, or POG for short. The name stuck.
The game was relatively quiet for decades until the 1990s. A teacher named Blossom Galbiso introduced the game to her students in Hawaii as a way to teach them about historical games. The kids loved it. It was simple, required skill, and was highly collectible. The craze spread like wildfire across the Hawaiian islands and then, fueled by clever marketing from a company called the World Pog Federation, it exploded onto the mainland United States and the rest of the world around 1993.
For about three years, pogs were everywhere. You could buy them in tubes at the grocery store, get them in kids’ meals from fast-food restaurants, and trade them with friends. There were pog tournaments with serious prizes. The designs were endless, featuring everything from cartoon characters and superheroes to psychedelic patterns and the ever-present mascot, a character called “The Pog Man.” And then, almost as quickly as it arrived, the fad died out. Schools started banning them because they became a distraction and a source of arguments. By the late 1990s, the pog craze was over, leaving behind generations of kids with boxes full of colorful cardboard circles.
Not All Slammers Are Created Equal: A Tour of the Types
This is where it gets interesting for collectors and enthusiasts. Slammers were not just generic heavy discs. They came in a huge variety of materials, weights, and designs, each with its own pros and cons.
Metal Slammers: These were the kings of the playground for many. They were almost always heavier than their plastic counterparts, which meant they transferred more energy to the pog stack, potentially flipping more pogs. They had a satisfying heft and made that classic clack sound. However, they could also damage the pogs over time, leaving dents and scratches. Some were simple brushed steel, while others had colorful designs printed on them. The heaviest metal slammers were often the most sought-after.
Plastic Slammers: Do not underestimate the plastic slammer. While often lighter, they came in a breathtaking array of designs. You had transparent slammers with glitter or small objects suspended inside, slammers molded into shapes like skulls or the iconic 8-ball, and slammers with rubber or textured edges for better grip. For players who valued finesse over pure power, a well-designed plastic slammer could be just as effective. They were also less likely to damage your precious pogs.
Specialty and Promotional Slammers: As the pog craze peaked, companies got creative. There were slammers that glowed in the dark, slammers that were also little containers, and even slammers with ball bearings inside that would rattle when you shook them. Fast-food chains like McDonald’s released their own sets of pogs and slammers as part of their Happy Meals. These promotional slammers are often very recognizable today and can be quite collectible.
When I was a kid, my personal favorite was a heavy, simple metal slammer with a red spiral design. It was not the flashiest, but it was reliable. I had a friend, however, who swore by his transparent plastic slammer with a small holographic dinosaur inside. He claimed it was “lucky.” That is the thing about slammers; their value was often personal and emotional.
How to Play Pogs: The Official and House Rules
While the World Pog Federation tried to standardize the rules, the truth is that every school and every group of friends had their own “house rules.” Here is a general guide to how the game was typically played.
First, you need two or more players and a large stack of pogs. Each player contributes an equal number of pogs to the stack, which is then placed face-down (with the design facing the floor) in a pile.
Players then decide who goes first, often by a simple coin toss or a game of rock-paper-scissors. The first player takes their slammer and throws it down onto the stack. The key was to hit the stack with enough force and the right angle to make the pogs fly and flip over.
Any pogs that land face-up after your slam are yours to collect. The pogs that remain face-down are restacked for the next player’s turn. Play continues clockwise until the entire stack has been cleared.
Now, for the house rules. This is where it got interesting.
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Slammies vs. Fingers: Some rules stated you had to use your slammer to flip the pogs. Others allowed you to use your fingers to flip any pogs that were partially dislodged by the slammer.
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Poison Pog: Sometimes, one special pog was designated as the “poison.” If you flipped it, you might lose all your winnings or be knocked out of the game.
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Slammer Keepers: A common rule was that if your slammer itself landed face-up on the pile, you got to keep the entire stack. This was a high-risk, high-reward move that could change the entire game in an instant.
The game was simple to learn but could require a surprising amount of skill to master. It was this perfect blend of chance, physical skill, and collecting that made it so addictive.
Pog Slammers Today: Nostalgia and Unexpected Value
So, what happened to all those pogs and slammers? For most of us, they ended up in a box in the attic or, sadly, in a landfill. But in the last decade, fueled by 90s nostalgia, there has been a quiet resurgence of interest in pogs as collectibles.
The big question is: are my old pog slammers worth any money?
The answer is: some are, but most are not. The value today is driven by rarity, condition, and demand, just like any other collectible.
What to Look For:
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Material and Brand: Slammers from the official “World Pog Federation” (WPF) are generally more desirable than generic no-name brands. Heavy metal WPF slammers, especially in mint condition, can fetch a decent price.
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Design and Themes: Slammers featuring popular licenses from the 90s are often sought after. Think slammers with Marvel Comics characters, Nintendo characters, or popular cartoons like X-Men or The Simpsons. Promotional slammers from major companies like McDonald’s are also collectible.
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Rarity and Errors: As with coins or stamps, manufacturing errors can make a slammer valuable. A misprint, an off-center design, or a unique color variation can attract serious collectors.
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Condition: This is crucial. A slammer that is scratched, dented, or has its design worn off will be worth significantly less than one that looks like it just came out of the package.
You will not get rich from a tub of common pogs and a few plastic slammers. However, if you have a complete, unopened set from a specific promotion, or a particularly rare metal slammer in perfect condition, you could be looking at anything from twenty to a few hundred dollars. The best way to check is to search for completed listings on eBay. Seeing what people are actually willing to pay is the most accurate gauge of current value.
For most of us, though, the real value is not in dollars and cents. It is in the memories. Finding that old box of pogs is like opening a time capsule. Each slammer tells a story of playground rivalries, successful trades, and a simpler time.
Conclusion
Pog slammers were more than just pieces of metal and plastic. They were the engines of a worldwide playground phenomenon. They were tokens of friendship, tools of competition, and tiny canvases for 90s pop culture. The game itself, born from milk bottle caps, captured the imagination of an entire generation for a brief, brilliant moment. While the craze has long since passed, the legacy of the pog slammer lives on. It lives on in cardboard boxes in attics, in the memories of those who played, and in a growing collector’s market that recognizes these simple toys as important artifacts of 1990s life. So, the next time you are cleaning out an old closet and you come across one, pick it up. Feel its weight. Remember the sound. For a moment, you will be right back on the playground.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the difference between a pog and a slammer?
A: A pog is the smaller, thinner, cardboard or plastic disc that usually has a design on it. A slammer is the heavier, thicker disc that is thrown onto the stack of pogs to flip them over. The slammer is the tool you use to play the game.
Q2: Are pogs and slammers still being made?
A: The mass production of pogs died out in the late 1990s. However, due to nostalgia, you can find new sets being produced by smaller companies, often sold online or in niche toy stores. These are modern reproductions, not the originals from the 90s craze.
Q3: What was the heaviest type of slammer?
A: Metal slammers were almost always the heaviest. Some were made from quite thick steel or even alloys to give them maximum weight for slamming power.
Q4: Why were pogs banned in so many schools?
A: Pogs were primarily banned because they became a major distraction. Kids would play during class, at lunch, and in the halls. They also led to arguments and fights, especially when valuable pogs were won or lost. Some schools also viewed them as a form of gambling.
Q5: Where is the best place to buy vintage pogs and slammers today?
A: Online marketplaces like eBay and Etsy are the best places to find vintage pogs and slammers. You can find everything from large, random lots to specific, rare slammers sold by collectors. Sometimes you can also find them at flea markets or in vintage toy stores.
