‘Play ball’ at Post Office with new Take Me Out to the Ball Game Stamp

How to Help Kids by Mailing Your Good Used Baseball Equipment

DENVER, CO — One of the most popular sports songs of all time — “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” — celebrates its 100th birthday this year. The U.S. Postal Service is honoring the song with a colorful and nostalgic 42-cent stamp available at Post Offices nationwide starting July 16th.

The song was written in 1908 by Jack Norworth, a successful vaudeville singer, entertainer and songwriter. Norworth wrote it on some scrap paper on a train ride to Manhattan. He saw a sign above the Polo Grounds about an upcoming game and wrote it from the perspective of a fictional fan who loves the game. Norworth then gave the lyrics to Albert Von Tilzer, who composed the music. The song was published by the York Music Company in 1908 and has been popular ever since.

For 100 years, the song’s catchy chorus below has been sung by Americans at ballparks nationwide, especially during the seventh inning stretch. The original handwritten lyrics are now housed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY.

The stamp was created by stamp artist and designer Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ. The stamp image is based on a circa-1880 “trade card” from the artist’s collection of baseball cards. The original card shows a baseball scene and contains words promoting a product made by a Michigan company.

The stamp art shows the same scene but replaces the words with “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The stamp shows the 42-cent rate, notes from the music, and the words “United States of America.” Besides at Post Offices, fans/customers can order the stamps at usps.com or by calling 1-800-STAMP-24.

n promoting the stamps, the Postal Service is also teaming up with the organizations “Little League Baseball” and “Pitch In For Baseball.” Both organizations collect and give used baseball equipment and assistance to disadvantaged and impoverished young people from around the world.

Postal customers are encouraged to donate and mail their “gently used” or new baseball equipment — especially baseball gloves, bats, catching gear, shoes and balls — to the address below. The Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box is excellent for shipping most of these items at an economical price of $12.95 from anywhere in the U.S. Mail your equipment to:

Pitch In For Baseball, 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034

Customers visiting Post Offices through the end of August will see additional information on the program, or they can visit www.usps.com/baseball.