Baseball fans interested in postage stamp collecting can find a wealth of stamps from the U.S. Postal Service. USPS commemorative stamps with a baseball theme began appearing in 1939 and have continued into 2010. Baseball lovers will find a collection of USPS baseball stamps is mildly challenging, yet inexpensive, to acquire.

USA Stamps With a Baseball Theme - Single Issues

The United States Postal Service has more than a 70-year history of issuing baseball stamps. Among the 50+ commemorative postage stamps with a baseball theme are 14 single issue stamps covering a variety of baseball-related topics.

    * 1939 3 cent - Baseball Centennial featuring a sandlot baseball game
    * 1969 6 cent - 100th Anniversary of Professional Baseball
    * 1969 6 cent - Grandma Moses with a baseball scene depicted in the painting
    * 1982 20 cent - Jackie Robinson from Black Heritage series
    * 1983 20 cent - Babe Ruth
    * 1984 20 cent - Jim Thorpe
    * 1984 20 cent - Roberto Clemente
    * 1989 25 cent - Lou Gehrig
    * 1992 29 cent - Olympic Baseball
    * 1996 32 cent - Mighty Casey from Folk Heroes issue
    * 2000 33 cent - Baseball from Youth Team Sports issue
    * 2008 42 cent - "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"
    * 2010 44 cent - Rube Foster Negro Leagues Baseball
    * 2010 44 cent - Negro Leagues Baseball

While the 1984 Thorpe stamp is technically a football-themed stamp, all-around athlete Jim Thorpe played professional baseball for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Boston Braves. His stamps should be considered for a baseball stamp collection.

Celebrate the Century Stamps

In 1998, the USPS began issuing stamps in the Celebrate the Century series. Each set of 15 stamps featured important events and developments from a single decade in the 20th century. Several of these stamps contained baseball themes.

    * 1998 32 cent - First World Series
    * 1998 32 cent - Jim Thorpe
    * 1998 32 cent - Babe Ruth
    * 1999 33 cent - Jackie Robinson
    * 1999 33 cent - The Shot Heard 'Round the World
    * 1999 33 cent - World Series Rivals - Yankees and Dodgers
    * 1999 33 cent - Roger Maris
    * 2000 33 cent - New Baseball Records

As noted above, while the 1998 Thorpe stamp is a track-and-field stamp, Thorpe's stamps should be considered for a baseball stamp collection.
Legends of Baseball Stamps

In 2000, the U.S. Postal Service released its first of three stamp issues featuring multiple baseball-themed stamps. The Legends of Baseball pane of twenty 33-cent commemorative stamps features a collection of immortal names in baseball history. Verso text, describing the career achievements of each player, appears on the back of the stamp pane liner.

    * 33 cent - Legends of Baseball pane of twenty
    * 33 cent - Jackie Robinson
    * 33 cent - Eddie Collins
    * 33 cent - Christy Mathewson
    * 33 cent - Ty Cobb
    * 33 cent - George Sisler
    * 33 cent - Rogers Hornsby
    * 33 cent - Mickey Cochrane
    * 33 cent - Babe Ruth
    * 33 cent - Walter Johnson
    * 33 cent - Roberto Clemente
    * 33 cent - Lefty Grove
    * 33 cent - Tris Speaker
    * 33 cent - Cy Young
    * 33 cent - Jimmie Foxx
    * 33 cent - Pie Traynor
    * 33 cent - Satchel Paige
    * 33 cent - Honus Wagner
    * 33 cent - Josh Gibson
    * 33 cent - Dizzy Dean
    * 33 cent - Lou Gehrig

For the more serious collectors, each of the twenty Legends of Baseball stamps also appeared as a 20 cent postcard.

Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields Stamps

In 2001, the USPS issued a set of Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields commemorative stamps honoring the ten iconic ballparks from Major League Baseball history. Text on the back of each stamp describes the baseball field.

    * 34 cent - Ebbets Field
    * 34 cent - Tiger Stadium
    * 34 cent - Crosley Field
    * 34 cent - Yankee Stadium
    * 34 cent - Polo Grounds
    * 34 cent - Forbes Field
    * 34 cent - Fenway Park
    * 34 cent - Comiskey Park
    * 34 cent - Shibe Park
    * 34 cent - Wrigley Field

An eleventh field, Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, appeared on the header of the Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields stamp sheet.
 
Baseball Sluggers Stamps

Four of baseball's best sluggers appeared on the Baseball Sluggers set of stamps in 2006.

    * 29 Cent - Roy Campanella
    * 29 Cent - Hank Greenberg
    * 29 Cent - Mel Ott
    * 29 Cent - Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle was the face of the New York Yankees during his career. With MVP awards, World Series titles, a Triple Crown, and 536 career home runs to his credit, Mantle is one of the most beloved players in any sport.

Roy Campanella, Major League Baseball's first African-American catcher, played with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He received the MVP award three times in his career.

Hank Greenberg won two MVP awards with the Detroit Tigers - once as a first baseman, and once as an outfielder.

Mel Ott, playing with the New York Giants, was the first National League player to hit 500 home runs.
 
Other Baseball Stamps - Expanding the Baseball Collection

After completing a U.S. baseball stamp collection, some stamp collectors may wish to expand. A large number of U.S. postcards and U.S. postal cancellations with a baseball theme can be uncovered with a little effort. Flea markets and antique stores are a good place to start the search.