Christmas morning 1983: All the presents in the Fleming household had been unwrapped — or so I thought. But then a package that had been hidden behind the tree “caught” my Dad’s eye. It was for me.

Cabbage Patch Kids were the toy back in the 1980s. These pudgy baby dolls had humble beginnings but caused a frenzied shopping season so memorable, we’re still talking about it 40 years later. From ...