Some people called them adorable, others called them ugly. These children's play things took the country by storm in 1983. What were they?

The unforgettable toy craze of 1983 was centered on the Cabbage Patch Kids. These dolls had distinctive soft-sculpted vinyl heads and fabric bodies, giving each one a unique look that famously divided opinion. While many found their pudgy cheeks and wide-set eyes endearing, others considered them homely or even strange-looking. This individuality, however, was a key part of their appeal. When the holiday season arrived that year, demand massively outstripped supply, leading to a nationwide frenzy often called the "Cabbage Patch Riots," with chaotic scenes of parents stampeding stores to secure a doll.

Originally created as "Little People" by folk artist Xavier Roberts in the late 1970s, the dolls' mass-market success came from a brilliant marketing strategy. You didn't simply buy a Cabbage Patch Kid; you "adopted" one. Each doll came with its own name and a set of adoption papers and a birth certificate, which the new owner would fill out and send in to the manufacturer, Coleco. This created a powerful sense of personal connection and scarcity, turning a simple toy into a must-have cultural phenomenon that defined the holiday shopping season of its time.