USPS American Sports Series - Babe Ruth

USPS issued on 6 July 1983 a 20-cent commemorative stamp honouring baseball great Babe Ruth. The postmark cancellation originated from  Chicago, Illinois, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary year of the All-Star Game in which Ruth hit the first home run, scoring two runs and winning the game. An additional postmark cancellation on a second postage stamp originated from Cooperstown, New York. It was the third stamp in the American Sports Series which begun in 1981. A total of 184,950,000 stamps were issued at a value of 20¢ each

The Babe Ruth Stamp design, by Richard Gangel of Weston, Connecticut, was based on a classic photograph of Ruth with feet spread apart and bat pointed almost straight up. He is looking toward the fences following a home run swing. Esther Porter modeled the stamp.

The dedication ceremony for the stamp was held on 5 July 1983 during the Old Timers Game at Comiskey Park, site of the first All-Star Game in 1933.