Celebration of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” Stamp

Pictorial Postmark available August 19th at the Naturals Game

WHO:
US Postal Service

WHAT:
Pictorial Postmark and Cachet Envelope Keepsake

WHEN:
Tuesday, August 19, 2008

WHERE:
At the entrance to Arvest Ball Park in Springdale, AR

Background:
The 2008 stamp issuance commemorates the 100th anniversary of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” one of the most popular baseball songs of all times.

In 1908, Jack Norworth spent 15 minutes writing this classic on scrap paper on a train ride to Manhattan and today it’s sung during the seventh inning stretch at nearly every ball park in the country.

Cachet envelopes, including a stamp, silkscreen image of Arvest Park and a pictorial postmark will be available for $5 each. Cachets make a unique gift or collectible and are suitable for matting and framing. A pictorial postmark will also be available. The postmark can be applied to anything with First-Class postage affixed including envelopes, game programs or ticket stubs.

After August 19, 2008, the postmark will only be obtainable by mail and must be postmarked by September 19, 2008. Mail-in requests addressed to the Springdale Postmaster must include a self addressed stamped envelope for the return of the pictorial.

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Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/welcome.htm.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation — 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.