Baseball season reminds me of summers spent at Wrigley Field, great hot dogs, the seventh inning stretch and Cracker Jack. I used to love (still do) digging in the box for the “prize,” a silly fortune, tatoo or flip book. Did you know that on this day in 1893, the forerunner to Cracker Jack (a concoction of popcorn, peanuts and molasses) was introduced by F.W. Rueckheim and his brother Louis at the World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago’s first World’s Fair?

Several years later, Louis discovered the process for keeping the molasses-covered popcorn pieces from sticking together. The brothers showed their treat to a salesman who is said to have exclaimed, “That’s crackerjack!” The Rueckheims then had the words trademarked.

For more fun Cracker Jack facts, read on…

1908 - The lyrics to the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was written by Jack Norworth during a 30-minute subway ride. Albert Von Tilzer composed the music and Cracker Jack was forever immortalized with the line, “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack.”

1912 “A Prize in Every Box” is introduced;

1918 Sailor Jack and his dog, Bingo, first appear on packages.

1993 Cracker Jack celebrates its 100th anniversary.

1995 Fat-free Cracker Jack is introduced.

Filed Under: Culinary History