Sports

1932 2¢ Third Olympic Winter Games
January 25, 1932

First U.S. Olympic Stamp 

On January 25, 1932, the US Post Office Department issued its first stamp honoring the Olympic Games.  Those games were the first to be held in the US.

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2006 39¢ Baseball Sluggers: Hank Greenberg
January 1, 1911,

Happy Birthday “Hammerin’ Hank”

On January 1, 1911, Henry Benjamin Greenberg was born in New York City, New York. One of the greatest sluggers in baseball history, he put his career on hold to serve 47 months with the Army during World War II, the most of any major league player.

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2006 39¢ Baseball Sluggers: Roy Campanella
November 19, 1921

Birth of Roy Campanella

Roy “Campy” Campanella was born on November 19, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Considered one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, he was the first catcher to break organized baseball’s color line when he debuted in the Majors in 1948.

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1961 4¢ Basketball, Naismith 100th Birth Anniversary
November 6, 1861

Birth of James Naismith 

Basketball inventor James Naismith was born on November 6, 1861, in Almonte, Ontario, Canada. He developed the game in 1891 as a safe sport for children to play indoors.

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2006 39¢ Baseball Sluggers: Mickey Mantle
October 20, 1931

Birth of Mickey Mantle

Mickey Charles Mantle was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma.  Considered the best switch hitter in history, he was a Triple Crown winner, won seven World Series, and was a three-time MVP.

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1983 20¢ George
September 30, 1927

Babe Ruth’s 60th Home Run

On September 30, 1927, Babe Ruth became the first baseball player in US history to hit 60 home runs. His record would stand for 34 years, but it remains a historic moment in sports history.

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2019 55¢ Maureen
September 17, 1934

Birth of Tennis Star “Little Mo”

Maureen Catherine Connolly-Brinker, also known as “Little Mo,” was born on September 17, 1934, in San Diego, California.  For four years, she dominated women’s tennis, winning nine Grand Slam singles titles, over 50 consecutive matches, and was named Female Athlete of the year – three years in a row.

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1999 33¢ Celebrate the Century - 1960s: Roger Maris Breaks 61 in '61
September 10, 1934

Happy Birthday, Roger Maris

Baseball player Roger Eugene Maris was born on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota.  He went on to break Babe Ruth’s home run record – and his own record stood for over 35 years.

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1972 6¢ 20th Summer Olympic Games
August 26, 1972

Opening of the 1972 Summer Olympics

On August 26, 1972, the Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, opened in Munich, West Germany.  The first games held in Germany since 1936, they were overshadowed by the “Munich Massacre.”

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