1998–2000 Celebrate the Century

Baseball earned seven stamp designs across six decades in the Postal Service’s Celebrate the Century series. The selections traced the game’s history through the First World Series, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, The Shot Heard ’Round the World, World Series Rivals, Roger Maris, and New Baseball Records.

Issued from 1998 through 2000, the series celebrated the people, events, and cultural milestones of the 20th century through 150 designs arranged on ten decade-themed sheets. The 32-cent and 33-cent stamps covered sports, arts and entertainment, science and technology, lifestyles, and historic events. The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee selected subjects for the 1900s through the 1940s, while nationwide public voting determined the selections for the 1950s through the 1990s.

Approximately 76.17 million baseball stamps were produced across the seven designs, with a combined original face value of approximately $24.88 million.

Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamps Books
Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamps Books

Celebrate the Century Books

Flip through the Celebrate the Century books and explore the seven chapters devoted to baseball.

The 1900s

First World Series – The championship games of 1903 are considered the first modern World Series. Boston of the American League beat Pittsburgh of the National League five games to three in a best-of-nine series. Approximately 12,533,333 stamps of this design were produced. The stamp is cataloged as Scott 3182n.

First World Series, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp – 32¢
1998 First World Series, Celebrate the Century (1900s)
First World Series, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
First World Series, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
Celebrate the Centuries (1900s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet

The 1900s: Stamp Stats

Value: 32¢
Issue Date: February 3, 1998
City: Washington, DC
Quantity: Approximately 12,533,333 First World Series stamps
Printed By: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Lithography
Perforations: 11.5
Color: Multicolored

The 1920s

Babe Ruth – Babe Ruth hit 54 home runs in 1920. He went on to hit 59 in 1921 and 60 in 1927. Twice he hit three home runs in a single World Series game. One of his nicknames was the Sultan of Swat. Approximately 12,533,333 stamps of this design were produced. The stamp is cataloged as Scott 3184a.

Babe Ruth, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp – 32¢
1998 Babe Ruth, Celebrate the Century (1920s)
Babe Ruth, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
Babe Ruth, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
Celebrate the Centuries (1920s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet
Celebrate the Centuries (1920s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet

The 1920s: Stamp Stats

Value: 32¢
Issue Date: May 28, 1998
City: Chicago, IL
Quantity: Approximately 12,533,333 Babe Ruth stamps
Printed By: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Lithography
Perforations: 11.5
Color: Multicolored

The 1940s

Jackie Robinson – Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s modern color barrier in 1947 when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. Voted Rookie of the Year that season, he earned the National League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1949. Approximately 12,533,333 stamps of this design were produced. The stamp is cataloged as Scott 3186c.

Jackie Robinson, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp – 33¢
1999 Jackie Robinson, Celebrate the Century (1940s)
Jackie Robinson, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
Jackie Robinson, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
Celebrate the Centuries (1940s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet
Celebrate the Centuries (1940s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet

The 1940s: Stamp Stats

Value: 33¢
Issue Date: February 18, 1999
City: Dobbins AFB, GA
Quantity: Approximately 12,533,333 Jackie Robinson stamps
Printed By: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Lithography and engraving
Perforations: 11.5
Color: Multicolored

The 1950s

The Shot Heard ’Round the World – The 1951 National League pennant race was decided in a best-of-three playoff. The New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers when Bobby Thomson hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning of the third game. Dean Ellis created the original painting for the stamp. Approximately 12,533,333 stamps of this design were produced. The stamp is cataloged as Scott 3187c.

World Series Rivals – Between 1949 and 1956, the New York Yankees and their crosstown rivals, the Brooklyn Dodgers, met five times in the World Series: 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956. The Dodgers won once, in 1955. Dean Ellis also created the original painting for this stamp. Approximately 12,533,333 stamps of this design were produced. The stamp is cataloged as Scott 3187j.

The Shot Heard Round the World, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp – 33¢
1999 The Shot Heard Round the World, Celebrate the Century (1950s)
The Shot Heard Round the World, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
The Shot Heard Round the World, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
World Series Rivals, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp – 33¢
1999 World Series Rivals, Celebrate the Century (1950s)
World Series Rivals, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
World Series Rivals, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
Celebrate the Centuries (1950s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet
Celebrate the Centuries (1950s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet

The 1950s: Stamp Stats

Value: 33¢ each
Issue Date: May 26, 1999
City: Springfield, MA
Quantity: Approximately 12,533,333 of each baseball design, or 25.07 million combined
Printed By: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Lithography and engraving
Perforations: 11.5
Color: Multicolored

The 1960s

Roger Maris – In 1961, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit 61 home runs, setting a new Major League Baseball single-season record and breaking Babe Ruth’s previous mark of 60, set in 1927. A total of 8,000,000 stamps of this design were produced. The stamp is cataloged as Scott 3188n.

Roger Maris, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp – 33¢
1999 Roger Maris, Celebrate the Century (1960s)
Roger Maris, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
Roger Maris, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
Celebrate the Centuries (1960s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet
Celebrate the Centuries (1960s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet

The 1960s: Stamp Stats

Value: 33¢
Issue Date: September 17, 1999
City: Green Bay, WI
Quantity: 8,000,000 Roger Maris stamps
Printed By: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Lithography and engraving
Perforations: 11.5
Color: Multicolored

The 1990s

New Baseball Records – The pursuit of three important and long-standing records thrilled Major League Baseball fans. Players set new marks for career strikeouts, consecutive games played, and home runs in a single season. A total of 5,500,000 stamps of this design were produced. The stamp is cataloged as Scott 3191a.

New Baseball Records, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp – 33¢
2000 New Baseball Records, Celebrate the Century (1990s)
New Baseball Records, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
New Baseball Records, Celebrate the Century U.S. Postage Stamp FDC
Celebrate the Centuries (1990s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet
Celebrate the Centuries (1990s), U.S. Postage Stamp Sheet

The 1990s: Stamp Stats

Value: 33¢
Issue Date: May 2, 2000
City: Escondido, CA
Quantity: 5,500,000 New Baseball Records stamps
Printed By: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Lithography
Perforations: 11.5
Color: Multicolored

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