When was the Pokémon Trading Card Game's Base Set first released in the United States?

The Pokémon Trading Card Game's Base Set was first released in the United States on January 9, 1999.

Base Set was the first major expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game in the English-language market. It included cards for familiar first-generation Pokémon and established the visual and mechanical foundation that later sets expanded.

The set had already appeared in Japan on October 20, 1996, shortly after the video games launched. That creates a frequent date mix-up: October 20, 1996 is the Japanese release, while January 9, 1999 is the United States release. English-language players often encountered the cards during the height of Pokémania, when the anime and video games were rapidly expanding internationally.

Base Set is also notable for lacking a normal expansion symbol on its cards. It included four themed decks and basic Energy cards, making it both a collectible product and an accessible way to begin playing the card game.