Int'l Baseball Postage Stamps (1985-1989)

International Baseball Postage Stamps

Here’s every international postage stamp depicting baseball from the stamp explosion from 1985 through 1989, including from Grenada, Comoro Islands, St. Vincent, Palau, and more!

1985

Japan

Since 1999, Japan Post has permitted individuals to create personalized postage stamp sheets through the ‘My Stamps’ program. These stamps enabled baseball fans to celebrate their favorite players and moments with sheets produced by ballclubs. Following their 2005 championship victory, the Hanshin Tigers released a commemorative stamp sheet, initiating the trend of baseball-themed personalized stamps in Japan.

Lesotho

The 1985 Lesotho stamp from the “Christmas 1985 – Disney: 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Mark Twain” series features his quote “Apparently there is nothing that can’t happen.” This commemorative stamp sheet issued on December 2, 1985 features Mickey Mouse on a moon landing, observing a baseball hit from Earth. It has a face value of 1.25 Lesotho loti.

Maldive Islands

The Maldives issued a baseball-themed stamp in 1984 for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, despite not participating in baseball at the Olympics. In 1985, they re-released this stamp issue with an overprint to celebrate the Olympic Games Gold Medal Winners from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Since baseball was a demonstration sport with no medal winners, this baseball stamp was merely overprinted with “JAPAN” on the front.

Netherlands

The 1985 European Baseball Championship, held from July 6 to July 14, 1985, in Haarlem and Eindhoven, the Netherlands, the Dutch team went a perfect 9-0 to clinch the title. To commemorate this event, the Netherlands issued a special postage stamp commemorative sheet as part of the 1985 City Post Haarlem European Baseball Championship issue, which was released on July 6.

Palau

The 1985 Palau postage stamp release, dated July 15, celebrated the International Youth Year, a United Nations initiative focusing on the challenges and opportunities for young people. This stamp series, issued by Palau shortly after gaining administrative independence in 1981, symbolized its commitment to international efforts aimed at empowering youth and addressing their concerns.

1986

Cuba

This 1986 Cuban postage stamp, issued to commemorate the 5th Central American and Caribbean University Sports Games, showcased athletes participating in various sports. Notably, it included a depiction of baseball, represented by a catcher and a batter. The design also incorporated a drawing of an owl holding a torch. Cuba’s baseball team won gold medal at the Games.

Cuba

Issued on February 23, 1986, this Cuban postage stamp commemorates the 25th anniversary of INDER (Instituto Nacional de Deportes, Educación Física y Recreación), Cuba’s National Institute of Sports. INDER, established in 1961, fosters and develops sports across the nation.

Grenada

The 1986 Grenada – Walt Disney postage stamps were issued to commemorate the AMERIPEX ’86, an international philatelic show. This set of 10 stamps features Mickey Mouse and his friends in various baseball-themed scenarios. The stamps depict scenes such as Chip and Dale working together to catch a fly ball, Goofy as a pitcher, Mickey striking out, and confusion at third base.

Maldive Islands

The 1986 Maldives Islands postage stamp series commemorated the AMERIPEX ’86, an international philatelic show. This series comprised eight stamps and two souvenir sheets. It was designed to celebrate popular American folklore stories, featuring depictions of legendary tales such as Casey at the Bat, Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, and Mike Fink.

Netherlands Antilles

The 1986 Netherlands Antilles “Youth Welfare” sports stamp series, featuring judo, tennis, baseball, and soccer, was issued on October 15, 1986. This series emphasized the importance of sports in promoting health, teamwork, and discipline among young people, and 25¢ from each baseball stamp purchase supported this cause.

Panama

At the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, in 1986, Panama’s baseball team settled for fourth place, while Cuba clinched the gold medal. To celebrate the Games, Panama released a postage stamp featuring a dynamic line drawing of a baseball pitcher among athletes from various other sports.

1987

Canada

Issued on April 13, 1987, the Canada Volunteers postage stamps highlight the impact of 3 million Canadian volunteers. Designed by Will Davies, the stamp features diverse volunteer activities, including an illustration that includes a boy with a baseball bat over his shoulder, representing youth involvement. This issue, part of National Volunteer Week, underscores the annual $3 billion societal contribution of volunteers. With 16,950,000 copies printed, it celebrates the crucial role of volunteerism in Canadian society.

Central African Republic

The 1987 Central African Republic postage stamp, part of the “Pre-Olympic Year” series, includes a rendering of Seoul’s Chamshil Baseball Stadium in the background, built for the 1988 Olympics. This stamp symbolizes the country’s recognition of international sports, highlighting baseball’s global significance and the nation’s connection to the Olympic Games.

China

The 6th National Games were held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, from November 20 to December 5, 1987. To commemorate these games, a stamp series was issued, designed by Lu Dehui, which included one featuring a silhouette of a softball batter.

Cuba

At the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Cuban baseball team, entering as four-time defending champions, successfully defended their title, adding another gold to their wins from 1971, 1975, 1979, and 1983. To commemorate this event, Cuba issued a postage stamp series in 1987, highlighting baseball among other sports. The stamp was coupled with a mascot wearing “Habana ’91,” symbolizing the next Pan American Games scheduled in Havana, Cuba, for 1991.

Dominican Republic

The 1987 Dominican Republic postage stamp series, issued on November 19, commemorates the 7th National Sports Games held in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic. This event marked a significant occasion, as it was the first time the province hosted the National Games. The stamps were designed by Nelson Dávila and support sports played in the host country.

El Salvador

In 1987, El Salvador issued postage stamps to commemorate the 10th Pan American Games in Indianapolis, featuring baseball, equestrian, hurdles, and weightlifting. The baseball event, won by Cuba, included teams from various countries, though El Salvador did not participate. El Salvador’s overall performance in the games was marked by winning a single bronze medal across all sports.

Grenada

The 1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held on July 14, 1987, at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. This 58th edition of the midsummer classic saw the National League defeating the American League 2-0 in a 13-inning game. Eric Davis and Wade Boggs were both starters in the game.

Grenada

The 1987 Grenada postage stamp series, titled “Andersen’s Fairy Tale,” brought together themes from Disney with the classic works of Hans Christian Andersen. In the stamp featuring “The Sandman,” a renowned Andersen fairy tale, an innovative twist is added with Mickey and Minnie Mouse shown asleep, engulfed in dreams, while Goofy, in a whimsical representation, hovers above them. In this depiction, a baseball can be seen on the floor next to the chest.

Nicaragua

In 1987, Nicaragua issued postage stamps to honor the 10th Pan American Games, held in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The baseball stamp was part of an eight-stamp series featuring high jump, volleyball, weightlifting, and more. At the games, Nicaragua’s baseball team went 3-4 in the round-robin and did not medal. Cuba ultimately won, continuing their streak as defending champions.

St. Vincent

United Nations

1988

Bolivia

Canada

Comoro Islands

Cook Islands

Grenada

Grenadines of Grenada

Honduras

Liberia

Marshall Islands

Mozambique

Mongolia

Nicaragua

Pakistan

Palau

St. Vincent

Taiwan

To help promote universal sports activities, this Directorate released a set of four 5.00 stamps on September 9, 1988-Athletics Day. The stamps were printed in two horizontal se-tenant pairs, one of which depicts basketball and the other baseball.