With Game 7 of 7 for the 2017 World Series getting underway this evening, our blog post is recalling the 2000 33¢ New Baseball Records USPS Stamp; it is from the Celebrate the Century Series, issuing on May 02, 2000.
The Houston Astros are playing Game 7 in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, both teams are tied 3-3 for the series going into tonight’s game.
The stamp celebrates 1998 Mark McGwire becoming the new home run king beating Roger Maris’ 37-year-old record of 61 home runs in one season!
I’m including this First Day Cover showing off the stamp. The First Day of Issue was May 02, 2000.
2000 New Baseball Records USPS Stamp
“A mix of talent and nostalgia rekindled America’s interest in baseball in 1998. That summer, Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr., Chicago Cub Sammy Sosa, and St. Louis Cardinal Mark McGwire chased Roger Maris’ 37-year-old record of 61 home runs in one season.
By September, it appeared McGwire was on track to break this most revered of baseball records. Fans pulled for the humble McGwire, who as a boy hit a home run in his very first trip to the plate during a little league game. Crowds went wild each time “Big Mac” knocked a pitch out of the ballpark with his powerful swing.
Steve Trachsel was pitching for the Chicago Cubs during the game on Tuesday, September 8. McGwire stepped up to the plate with no runners on base in the fourth inning. He hit Trachsel’s first pitch, an 88-mile-an-hour sinking fastball, so low toward left field that it appeared it would stay in the park. Instead, the ball cleared the wall by about five feet, ricocheting off an advertising sign. Maris’ children were a few of the first people who congratulated the new home run king. …”To read the entire article, click here.
Baseball Reference Website
In writing this blog post it was interesting to come across a listing of Single-Season Leaders & Records for Home Run over at Baseball Reference website; especially noting how many have broken the record since McGwire in 1998.
In conclusion, as baseball season 2017 is wrapping up, you may enjoy these two previous posts: Spring Training Into USPS Baseball Lunch Bag, and Ferris & Play Ball USPS Stamps June 2017 Announced from May.
Thank you for joining me today recalling the excitement of the 2000 New Baseball Records USPS Stamp. Hey Batter, batter!
Anchors Aweigh, Helen
Attribution & Thank you to the following I’m referencing today for my daily blog post encouraging letter writing –
Mystic Stamp Company, #3191a – 2000 33c New baseball records, image USPS, excerpt.
Baseball Reference Website, Single-Season Leaders & Records for Home Runs, an image of top part of the list. @baseball_ref
AnchoredScraps letter writing posts: Spring Training Into USPS Baseball Lunch Bag 3-03-2017; Ferris & Play Ball USPS Stamps June 2017 Announced 5-26-2017 by Helen Rittersporn.
