A Look Back at 1988: What Life Was Like the Year Tracks the Moose was Born

February 17, 2025

A lot can change in 37 years. From the technology we use to the way we dress, trends come and go, and the world evolves. Some things, however, are timeless.

Created in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 1988, the Original Moose Tracks has been delighting taste buds for nearly 40 years. Along with the iconic flavor, the world was introduced to our legendary mascot, Tracks the Moose.

While it’s comforting to know that some things never change, it’s also fun to reflect on just how different things were way back when. Hop in our time machine and take a trip back to the year Tracks the Moose was born:

The U.S. economy in 1988

  • Gas in the U.S. was $0.90 per gallon
  • A dozen eggs cost $0.79 on average
  • The closing price for Apple (AAPL) stock was $0.28
  • The average price of a movie ticket was $4.11
  • A postage stamp cost $0.25

Music and entertainment in 1988

  • “Faith” by George Michael was the best-selling album of 1988 in the U.S.
  • “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley was number four on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 list
  • Some popular movies in theaters were “Die Hard,” “Coming to America,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Beetlejuice” and “Child’s Play”
  • “The Last Emperor” won the Oscar for Best Picture

1980s fashion

  • Shoulder pads, neon, acid-washed jeans, fitness and casual wear, and chunky jewelry were fashionable for women
  • Preppy style, bold suits, and hip-hop influences were fashionable for men

Sports in 1988

  • The 15th Winter Olympics were held in Alberta, Calgary, Canada
  • The 24th Summer Olympics were held in Seoul, South Korea, and table tennis officially became an Olympic sport
  • Michael Jordan won his first NBA MVP award
  • The first version of the video game series “John Madden Football” was released
  • Champions of the year included:
    • The Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII
    • The LA Dodgers in the World Series
    • The Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals
    • The LA Lakers in the NBA Finals

Other things that happened in 1988

  • The Netherlands became the second country to connect to the internet
  • The top 5 baby names for boys were Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, and Andrew
  • The top 5 baby names for girls were Jessica, Ashley, Amanda, Sarah, and Jennifer
  • Some celebrities born in 1988 were Emma Stone, A$AP Rocky, Jhené Aiko, Kevin Durant, Adele, Michael Cera, Lizzo, Glen Powell, Rihanna, Vanessa Hudgens, Steph Curry, Zoë Kravitz, Rupert Grint, and Benny Blanco

Plenty has changed over the years, but no matter what decade we’re in, you can always count on a spoonful of Original Moose Tracks to taste as great today as it did in 1988! For tasty treats beyond the original, check out our flavors page to see what else we’ve been serving.