It’s still only February, but ‘spring’ is in the air…spring training that is…and the start of a new season of baseball.
 
It stands to reason that a subject as beloved as baseball has naturally become part of postal history. And unlike collectible baseball cards, collectible baseball stamps are generally inexpensive and easy to transport and store.
 
In 1939, U.S. Postmaster General James A. Farley proposed that a new 3-cent baseball commemorative stamp be issued to coincide with the opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame the same year. Surprisingly, a nationwide poll of collectors voted overwhelmingly against it. But stamp-collecting President Roosevelt vetoed their vote and spread the word through the nation’s sports pages that he wished “every boy in America” could get a first-day cover from the new issue.
 
Adults may have initially rejected the stamp, but young fans were captivated immediately. Ultimately, 81 million stamps were issued and many are still available today.
 
Since then, the USPS has released hundreds of commemorative issues through the years, but 25 stand out as the most popular. Occupying three of the top two-dozen spots are stamps devoted to baseball legends, baseball sluggers, and baseball playing fields.

Baseball is as American as apple pie, and just as popular. In 2006, nearly 76 million people (75,959,167) took themselves out to the ballgame, with the New York Yankees drawing the most fans (4,200,468) and the Florida Marlins drawing the fewest fans (1,165,120).
 
Television has made baseball a shared virtual reality worldwide. With 21st Century transportation advancements (think Airbus to the ballgame), it’s bound to become true reality as well, brining people together to root, root, root for the home team. (Imagine jumping on an airbus to an away game!).

In these times of uncertainty, the continuing popularity of baseball stamps and event covers seems assured.