Baseball’s legendary playing fields honored

DETROIT – The infield was mowed, base lines were laid and a small portion of Detroit’s Tiger Stadium was filled with the memories of the sights and sounds of the 1968 and 1984 World Series.

History was relived as Tiger Stadium and home-plate served as the backdrop for the first day issuance of the United States Postal Service’s Baseball’s Legendary Playing Fields commemorative stamps.

Stadiums honored.

The ceremony took place June 27. Issued in association with Major League Baseball, the Baseball’s Legendary Playing Fields stamps feature Detroit’s Tiger Stadium, Chicago’s original Comiskey Park, Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, Boston’s Fenway Park, Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field, New York’s Polo Grounds, Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and New York’s Yankee Stadium.

St. Louis’ Sportsman’s Park is depicted on the header of the 20-stamp sheet, which includes two 34-cent, self-adhesive stamps of each of the other 10 ballparks.

To commemorate.

“Many of these legendary ballparks are gone, but as with the legends that joined us in the unveiling, they are not forgotten,” said John Talick, lead executive/district manager for the Detroit post office.

Only four of the 11 legendary playing fields depicted on the stamp sheet still stand: Tiger Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium, with the latter three still used by their respective teams.

The stamps are now on sale nationwide.