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The Negro League Legends Hall of Fame (NLLHOF) and United States Postal Service (USPS) teamed up for a stamp to honor celebrated baseball player Henry “Hank” Aaron on Aug. 17.
Nearly 100 attendees filled NLLHOF’s suite at Prince George’s Stadium to hear about Aaron’s legacy in both baseball and Black history and purchase envelopes bearing the stamp and the NLLHOF branding. Books of stamps were available on the stadium concourse for $14.60 each, while the envelopes were $8 for the special edition and $7 for the first-day issue.
“This was an amazing event. Dwayne [Simms] (the event’s founder) brings our history, in sports and in the community, to the forefront,” Montre Dupree told The Informer. “It’s a great opportunity to see art and history blended together so beautifully. Chuck Styles who designed the stamp did an excellent job. I’m excited to be here as a volunteer for this historic event.”
The Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office ceremonial color guard presented colors during the ceremony. Virginia State Senator Aaron Rouse (D- District 22) presented a proclamation for the late Levi “Chappie” Drew, a former Negro League player and NLLHOF board member emeritus.
Attendees celebrated the festivities, with many decked out in game-day attire. Some women donned 1920s-era flapper attire, with other people wore Negro League gear, such as a Josh Gibson jersey, and several vintage Jackie Robinson jerseys.
In addition, members of the Chapter of the Ebony Society of Philatelic Events and Reflections (ESPER), an organization committed to collecting and recording stamps across the African diaspora, emphasized the importance of celebrating the Aaron stamp.
“We’re an international organization that collects stamps all across the world,” said Jane West Lewis, director of ESPER’s Maryland, Delaware, and D.C. chapter. “There are over 100 stamps honoring African Americans. Willie Mays, who just died, we will be celebrating him soon. If people are unable to make it to the city, he’s from in Alabama, you can count on ESPER’s DC chapter to have a dedication here just like this one.”
Due to a rain delay, the East-West Negro League All-Star Game and Auto Show, originally scheduled as part of stamp ceremony activities, has been rescheduled to Sept. 1. This year’s game is particularly significant as Major League Baseball finally chose to integrate Negro League stats into the career records for retired players.
Richard D. Elliott is a reporter for the Washington Defender.
