Stamps in the News

The World Series is upon us. Our “National Pastime” reaches its zenith each year with the winners of the American League facing the champs of the National League—as millions of fans of all ages cheer for their favorites.

The history of baseball reveals different beginnings from different sources. According to historian Ken Burns, “One summer afternoon in 1839 at Cooperstown, New York, the boys of the Otsego Academy played a game called town ball. That day, a resourceful young Otsego player named Abner Doubleday drew up the rules of a brand new game and called it — BASEBALL.”

The U. S. Postal Service has been a loyal fan of the game and has issued several stamps dedicated to the men who played it and to those who watched it. The first stamp connected with this sport was issued in 1939. Three stamps at 3 cents each, hailed the centenary of the game showing action scenes.

As a tribute to the stars of the game through the years, the Postal Service released, in the year 2000, stamps showing the heroes who have left their indelible marks forever on baseball history. The players shown were Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Satchel Paige, Eddie Collins,

Mickey Cochrane, Tris Speaker, Christy Mathewson, Cy Young, Rogers Hornsby, Lefty Grove, Ty Cobb, Jackie Robinson, Walter Johnson, Jimmie Foxx, Dizzy Dean, George Sisler, Pie Traynor, Roberto Clemente, Lou Gehrig and Josh Gibson.

The last U. S. Postal Service baseball set was issued in 2006. It honored a quartet of “sluggers,” power hitters who would please fans with awesome home runs and set impressive standards for coming generations. The honorees were Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees, Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers, Mel Ott of the New York Giants and Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

A special set of 10 stamps was released in 2001 illustrating “Baseball’s Legendary Playing Fields.” Included were the Polo Grounds in New York City, Fenway Park in Boston, Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, Komiskey Park in Chicago, Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Wrigley Field in Chicago and Yankee Stadium in New York.

Many star hitters such as Joe Di- Maggio, Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Hank Aaron did not appear on stamps because they were still alive at the time of issuance.