2000 Legends of Baseball

On July 6, 2000, the U.S. Postal Service issued the Legends of Baseball Classic Collection in Atlanta, Georgia. The pane features twenty 33-cent commemorative stamps, each honoring a different Baseball Hall of Fame member whose achievements and personality helped shape the national pastime.

The twenty players were drawn from the 100 nominees for Major League Baseball’s 1999 All-Century Team. Ten were named to the final team: Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Grove, Rogers Hornsby, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, and Cy Young. The remaining stamps honor Roberto Clemente, Mickey Cochrane, Eddie Collins, Dizzy Dean, Jimmie Foxx, Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, George Sisler, Tris Speaker, and Pie Traynor.

The collection includes Negro Leagues legends Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige. Gibson died in January 1947, just months before Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and never had the opportunity to play in the Majors. Paige joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948 at age 42, helping the team win the World Series that season.

Designed by Phil Jordan and illustrated by Joseph Saffold, the stamps depict the players batting, catching, pitching, and throwing against colorful ballpark backgrounds. Working from historic photographs, Saffold created the artwork with Prismacolor pencils and airbrushed acrylic and oil paints. Text on the back of the pane liner highlights each player’s career achievements.

Ashton-Potter (USA), Ltd., printed 225,000,000 stamps using the offset process, equivalent to 11,250,000 complete panes and 11,250,000 stamps per player. At 33 cents each, the issue had a total face value of $74,250,000. The twenty designs are cataloged as Scott 3408a–3408t.

Stamped Postal Cards

Each Legends of Baseball stamp was also released as a postcard with a 20¢ postage-paid value. The 20 designs were released as a booklet in ready-to-mail postcards.

Roberto Clemente

The first Hispanic elected to the Hall of Fame, Roberto Clemente was admired for his superb hitting, rifle-like arm, and philanthropic spirit. He helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win two World Championships.

Ty Cobb

Known for his aggressive style at the plate and on the base paths, Ty Cobb may have been the greatest all-around player in Major League Baseball. In his 24-year career, 22 with the Detroit Tigers, the “Georgia Peach” won 9 straight American League batting titles.

Mickey Cochrane

Mickey Cochrane sparked the Philadelphia Athletics’ championship teams of 1929–1931 with his potent bat, skill behind the plate, and fierce, competitive spirit.

Eddie Collins

Eddie “Cocky” Collins played the game of baseball for 25 seasons, a 20th century record for non-pitchers. His brilliant base-running and batting helped four teams win World Championships.

Dizzy Dean

Dizzy Dean, fastball-throwing member of the St. Louis Cardinals “Gas House Gang,” was a legend in his own time, once holding the modern single-game record of 17 strikeouts. In 1934 he and brother Paul led the Cardinals to the World Championship.

Jimmie Foxx

One of the top Major League Baseball sluggers of all time, Jimmie Foxx hit 30 or more home runs for 12 seasons in a row. Foxx won the Triple Crown for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1933, leading the American League in home runs, batting, and RBIs.

Lou Gehrig

First baseman for the New York Yankees, Lou Gehrig playin in 2,130 consecutive games. In 1934 the “Iron Horse” led the American League in batting average (.363), home runs (49) and RBIs (165).

Josh Gibson

Among the biggest draws in the Negro Leagues, popular Josh Gibson is generally considered one of the most prodigious power hitters in the history of professional baseball.

Lefty Grove

One of the finest left-handed pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball, Lefty Grove went 31-4 for the 1931 Philadelphia Athletics. In the process, he put together a 16-game winning streak.

Rogers Hornsby

Rogers Hornsby was the most impressive right-handed hitter in the history of the game. He won seven batting championships (six in a row) and managed the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals to their first World Championship.

Walter Johnson

Walter “Big Train” Johnson used a sweeping sidearm motion to fire fastballs over home plate. In his 21-year career with the Washington Senators, he fanned 3,509 batters, won 417 games, and pitched a record 110 shutouts.

Christy Mathewson

In 1901, 21-year-old Christy Mathewson won 20 games for the New York Giants. With his “fadeaway” pitch, he posted three consecutive 30-victory seasons and in the 1905 World Series, threw three shutouts in only six days.

Satchel Paige

A legend after two decades in the Negro Leagues, pitcher Satchel Paige signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1948. At age 42, this “veteran-rookie” helped his team win the American League pennant.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson broke the Major League Baseball color barrier when he came to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Two years later, he hit a league leading .342, drove in 124 runs, and was voted the Most Valuable Player in the National League.

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth was the most celebrated athlete of his time. Before beginning play with the New York Yankees in 1920, the “Sultan of Swat” was a successful pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. In 1927, he hit a record-setting 60 homers.

George Sisler

The St. Louis Browns’ George Sisler won two batting titles, set the record for hits in a season, and produced a 41-game hitting streak – all while maintaining a reputation as one of the true gentlemen in Major League Baseball.

Tris Speaker

Tris Speaker revolutionized outfield play by positioning himself in shallow center field. As a result, this Cleveland Indian recorded more assists that any other outfielder in the long history of Major League Baseball.

Pie Traynor

Rated as one of the finest third basemen of all time, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Pie Traynor had a defensive prowess that often under-shadowed his strong hitting. His nickname reportedly came from a childhood fondness for pastry.

Honus Wagner

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ star shortstop, Honus Wagner also was a league-leading batter and base stealer. The “Flying Dutchman” enjoyed 15 consecutive .300 seasons, 8 as the National League batting champ.

Cy Young

Denton True Young, nicknamed Cy (short for “Cyclone”), won 511 games in his 22-year Major League Baseball career – almost 100 more than any other pitcher. A durable athlete, Young pitched an astonishing 749 complete games.

Legends of Baseball in Gold

The Postal Commemorative Society (PCS) recreated the twenty stamps issued in the 2000 Legends of Baseball series as 22kt gold-foil replicas. The collection gives the original stamp artwork a shimmering metallic finish.

Stamp Stats

Value: 33¢
Issue Date: July 6, 2000
City: Atlanta, GA
Quantity: 11,250,000 sets
Printed by: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd
Printing Method: Lithographed
Perforations: Serpentine die cut 11.25
Color: Multicolored

2000 Legends of Baseball