Sports

1981 18¢ Babe Zaharias
September 22, 1981

American Sports Series

On September 22, 1981, the USPS inaugurated its Sports Series (sometimes called the American Sports Personalities Series), honoring some of America’s most notable athletes. 

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1976 13¢ Olympic Games
July 17, 1976

Opening of the 1976 Summer Olympics 

On July 17, 1976, Queen Elizabeth II presided over the opening ceremonies of the Games of the XXI Olympiad in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. These were the first and only Summer Olympics held in Canada.

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1983 20¢ George
July 6, 1933

First U.S. All-Star Baseball Game

On July 6, 1933, the first All-Star game was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. It’s become a beloved annual tradition held nearly every since.

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1990 25¢ Olympians: Helene Madison
June 19, 1913

Happy Birthday, Helene Madison

Olympic swimmer Helene Emma Madison was born on June 19, 1913, in Madison, Wisconsin.  “Queen Helene” won three gold medals at the 1932 Summer Olympics and broke multiple world records.

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1939 3¢ Baseball Centennial
June 12, 1939

Opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame

On June 12, 1939, the Baseball Hall of Fame opened in Cooperstown, New York. Often referred to as simply Cooperstown, it’s become the home of baseball, with more than 300 inductees over the years.

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1997 32¢ Football Coaches: Vince Lombardi
June 11, 1913

Happy Birthday, Vince Lombardi!

Vincent Thomas Lombardi was born on June 11, 1913, in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. One of the most successful coaches in NFL history, the Super Bowl trophy is named in his honor.

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1996 32¢ Folk Heroes: Mighty Casey
June 3, 1888

“Casey at the Bat” 

On June 3, 1888, the now-famous poem “Casey at the Bat” was first published in the San Francisco Daily Examiner. It’s been performed and recorded thousands of times and adapted to several other media, become the most famous baseball poem in history.

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1984 20¢ Jim Thorpe
May 28, 1888

Happy Birthday Jim Thorpe 

Jim Thorpe said he was born on May 28, 1888, in Indian Territory. A world renowned athlete, he helped popularize football in the United States and was the first athlete to win both the decathlon and the pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics.

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1990 25¢ Olympians: Eddie Eagan
April 26, 1897

Birth of Olympian Eddie Eagan

Edward Patrick Francis Eagan was born on April 26, 1897, in Denver, Colorado.  He’s the only person in Olympic history to win gold medals in both Summer and Winter sports.

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