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USPS Honors Willie Mays With Black Heritage Stamp

The 50th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors the Hall of Fame center fielder, the second baseball player so recognized after Jackie Robinson.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Baseball

USPS Honors Willie Mays With Black Heritage Stamp

The United States Postal Service announced a stamp honoring Willie Mays in its Black Heritage series, making him the second baseball player to receive the honor after Jackie Robinson in 1982. The stamp is the 50th in the series and was designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá.

Why it matters

The stamp recognizes Mays's 23 major league seasons and 12 Gold Glove Awards while placing his career within the USPS's commemorative tradition of honoring Black Americans. It also reflects the recognition of Negro leagues history, since Mays began his professional career in 1948 with the Birmingham Black Barons.

Mays won 12 MLB Gold Glove Awards across 23 major league seasons, beginning his career in 1948 with the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro leagues. The stamp marks the 50th issue in the USPS Black Heritage series.

The players

Willie Mays

Willie Mays was a Hall of Fame center fielder who played for the New York and San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in baseball history.

United States Postal Service

The United States Postal Service is the independent federal agency responsible for mail delivery nationwide, which administers the Black Heritage stamp series.

Antonio Alcalá

Antonio Alcalá is an art director for the United States Postal Service who designed the Willie Mays stamp.

The details

The stamp uses photos from Getty Images, including one of Mays as a New York Giant and another of his famous over-the-shoulder catch, known as 'The Catch,' made in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. Its orange background references the color associated with Mays's career, and the design was conceived as an ode to classic baseball cards.

Timeline

  1. 1948: Mays begins his major league career with the Birmingham Black Barons.

  2. 1954: Mays makes 'The Catch' in Game 1 of the World Series.

  3. 1982: Jackie Robinson receives a Black Heritage stamp.

  4. 2024: Willie Mays dies.

  5. November 9, 2026: USPS announces the Willie Mays stamp.

Season Trajectory

Mays joins Jackie Robinson as one of only two baseball players to receive a USPS Black Heritage stamp, the first being issued in 1982. The honor extends the series' recognition of Negro leagues and Major League Baseball pioneers beyond its earlier focus.

Collectors of Black Heritage stamps and baseball memorabilia may seek out the Mays issue once it is available. Fantasy and historical baseball fans can also use Mays's 12 Gold Gloves and 23 seasons as reference points for his career value.

The takeaway

The stamp reflects a broader effort to recognize Black athletes who shaped American sports and culture, and Mays's Negro leagues start underscores how much of baseball history predates integration.

Further reading

Explore more Baseball coverage for context on Mays's career and the sport's history.