Int'l Baseball Postage Stamps (1970-1979)

International Baseball Postage Stamps (1970 to 1979)

Every 1970 through 1979 international postage stamp depicting baseball, including from Cuba, Korea, Colombia, Taiwan, Ras Al Khaima, Italy and more.

1970

Cuba

The 11th Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Panama City, Panama, from February 28 to March 13, 1970. Cuba delivered an exceptional performance, securing a total of 210 medals. This haul included 98 gold medals and a repeat gold medal victory in baseball, marking their second consecutive win in this event.

Korea (South)

The 1970 South Korean 51st National Athletic Meet, marking the 50th anniversary of the Korean Amateur Athletic Association, was commemorated with a 10 won postage stamp featuring baseball, designed by Chun, Heui Han, and issued on October 6, 1970. This stamp, one of three types released for the event, saw 2,000,000 copies printed. The meet, a diverse sports showcase including a historic first-time participation from North Korean province athletes, emphasized South Korea’s sporting spirit.

1971

Colombia

At the 1971 Pan American Games, held in Cali, Colombia from July 30 to August 13, the host nation achieved notable success by securing the bronze medal in baseball. The event featured participation from athletes across 32 countries.

Cuba

In the 1971 Pan American Games held in Cali, Colombia, Cuba’s baseball team won the gold medal. This event was part of a broader athletic success for Cuba, as they secured a total of 105 medals across various sports.

Cuba

In 1971, Cuba hosted the 19th Amateur World Baseball Championship in Havana and issued three commemorative baseball stamps for the event. The Cuban team won the title with an undefeated 9-0 record. This remarkable performance solidified Cuba’s position as a dominant force in international amateur baseball.

Samoa I Sisifo

In 1971, Samoa released a “Tourism” postage stamp series, uniquely featuring a cricket scene with a player swinging a baseball bat. This stamp not only promoted tourism but also reflected the sport’s popularity on the island. Symbolizing Kilikiti, Samoa’s national sport and a unique adaptation of cricket introduced in the 19th century, the stamp underscored cricket’s cultural and recreational significance in Samoan society.

Taiwan

To promote sports, a “Sports Postage Stamps” series was released on July 29, 1971, coinciding with the start of the Pacific Region Competition of the 1971 World Little League Series hosted in Taiwan. This collection, featuring three denominations, centers on baseball-themed designs. The designs draw inspiration from the uniforms and characteristics of the Golden Dragons, the 1969 Little League World Series champions.

Taiwan

The Taiwan Giants Little Leaguers from the Republic of China clinched the 25th Little League World Series Championship on August 28, 1971. To commemorate this victory, “Chungshan Building Postage Stamps” were overprinted with twelve Chinese characters, translating to “Commemorating the Little Leaguers of the Republic of China Winning the Little League World Series Championship,” along with an image of a pitcher. The overprints were in purple on the 1.00 stamp, and in deep red on the 2.50 and 3.00 stamps.

1972

Cuba

In 1972, Cuba issued two baseball-themed postage stamps with the same design, one red and one green, both featuring an umpire making a call. The first commemorates Cuba’s runner-up finish in that year’s 20th Amateur World Series in Nicaragua. The second celebrates the 11th edition of Cuba’s National Series of Amateur Baseball, where the “Azucareros” team triumphed as champions.

Manama

The 1972 Manama 3D baseball postage stamps are a rare and esteemed collection, valued for their innovative printing technique that creates a 3D effect when tilted—a method later used in the “Sportflics” baseball card series. Made in from a plastic-like material, the set comprises eight base stamps, each featuring either American or Japanese player pairs. Additionally, it includes two larger bonus stamps: one highlighting Babe Ruth with the Yankees’ Murders Row, and another featuring Japanese legends Sadaharu Oh and Yutaka Enatsu.

Ras Al Khaima

In 1972, Ras Al Khaimah, part of the United Arab Emirates, released a “Baseball Friendship USA-Japan” stamp series to celebrate baseball’s cross-cultural influence. These multicolored stamps showcase famous American and Japanese baseball players, symbolizing the sport’s unifying spirit. This series, with its varied Qatari dirham values, underscored the international reach of baseball and the connection between the USA and Japan.

Taiwan

In 1972, teams from the Republic of China won both senior and junior Little League World Series titles. The Meiho Senior Leaguers won in Gary, Indiana, on August 21, and the Taipei City Little Leaguers won in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on August 26. This marked the Republic of China’s first senior title and third overall World Title, with previous wins in 1969 and 1971. To celebrate, commemorative stamps featuring the “Dignity With Self-Reliance” design, an overprint of eighteen Chinese characters, the year 1972, and a pitcher’s image were issued on September 9, 1972, Sports Day.

1973

Italy

The inaugural Intercontinental Cup Baseball in Rome, Italy, was commemorated by a stamp series designed by P. Renzulli. This event, led by FIBS president Bruno Bedeck, responded to Latin America’s dominance in international baseball. It symbolized Italy’s deepening engagement with baseball, a journey that began with the first professional league game in 1948. Despite Italy’s modest 6th place finish, the tournament was a significant milestone in both Italian and international baseball, eventually leading to the merger of FEMA and FIBA in 1976, which further integrated international baseball competitions.

Nicaragua

The 1973 Amateur World Series, held in Managua, Nicaragua, from November 22 to December 5, was one of two concurrent Amateur World Series that year, resulting from a split in the international baseball community. The Nicaraguan series, organized by the Federación Mundial de Beisbol Amateur (FEMBA), vied with another series run by the Federación Internacional de Beisbol Aficionado (FIBA). Following reconciliation between these organizations, the Nicaraguan event was officially recorded as “Amateur World Series” in historical archives. Nicaragua finished as the runner-up in 1973, securing second place behind the United States.

Panama

The 7th Annual Bolivarian Games, held in Panama City from February 17 to March 3, 1973, featured approximately 1,200 athletes from five countries competing in 16 sports. As the host nation, Panama saw its games inaugurated by President Demetrio Basilio Lakas, with the torch lighting by renowned athlete Faustino López. Baseball, reflecting Panama’s deep-rooted passion for the sport, was a highlight. Panama secured the bronze medal, trailing behind Venezuela’s silver and Colombia’s gold.

Taiwan

The Hua Hsing Senior Baseball Team and the Giant Little Baseball Team each triumphed in their respective World Series championships. To celebrate these victories, a special set of commemorative stamps was released. This collection features two vertical stamps with parallel designs, each showcasing the emblem of the Little League World Series. Eighteen Chinese characters dominate the top of the central design: “中華青少年及少年雙獲世界冠軍紀念,” translating to “Commemorating the Twin Championships of the Little League World Series by the Republic of China Teams.”

1974

Cuba

In the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games, Cuba’s baseball team finished with a 9-1 record, securing the gold medal. To honor this victory, Cuba issued a commemorative stamp for the series. Additionally, Cuba released a “History of Baseball” set consisting of five stamps, each showcasing a different aspect of the nation’s baseball heritage, from its early days to modern accomplishments. These stamps and the event itself serve to highlight Cuba’s deeply ingrained and widely celebrated baseball legacy.

Equatorial Guinea

The 1974 Equatorial Guinea postage stamp, commemorating the 75th Anniversary of F.C. Barcelona, a prominent soccer club, pays homage to several sports. Graphics representing hockey, basketball, football, and baseball are featured on the soccer ball.

Mexico

In 1974, Mexico issued a commemorative stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB), featuring a design with a catcher’s mask, bat, and mitt. The LMB, established in 1925 as the country’s oldest professional baseball league, had expanded from about six teams to ten by 1970, dividing geographically for the first time. By its golden jubilee in 1974, the league was a prominent part of Mexican sports culture.

Taiwan

The three baseball teams of the Republic of China-the all-stars Big League team, Mei Ho Senior League team, and Li Teh Little League team-won a triple championship in the 1974 Little League World Series. A set of stamps was issued to mark the event.

1975

Cuba

In 1975, Cuba released a commemorative stamp series for the 7th Annual Pan American Games, which included one honoring baseball. This stamp, issued on September 20, 1975, has a face value of 1 Cuban centavo. During the Games in Mexico City, Cuba’s baseball team, the defending champions from 1971, successfully retained their title, clinching the gold medal once again.

Dominican Republic

In 1975, the Dominican Republic issued a stamp featuring a baseball player to commemorate its participation in the 7th Pan American Games held in Mexico City. Though the nation did not win a medal, it finished with a respectable 5-3 record, and the stamp showcased this achievement.

1976

Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada, was constructed as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics. After the Olympics, the stadium transitioned to hosting baseball and football games and became the home of the Montreal Expos from 1977 until 2004. The first baseball game at Olympic Stadium was held on April 15, 1977. Many countries featured Olympic Stadium on postage stamps to commemorate the games held there. Only a few are shown, as the stadium wasn’t used for baseball until after the Games.

Canada

Guinea