1939 Cooperstown Centennial Souvenir Cap

[da-bullman]

Just found the invoice for the Centennial Baseball Caps from the National Centennial Commission for $30.00 no mention of how many caps were purchased. However, Hannagan ordered the caps for the Postmaster General James Farley to use in Cooperstown. 1b- Post Master Farley Dignitary Souvenir Hat.jpg

On June 12th 1939 in Cooperstown the Post Office issued the first sport stamp of boys playing baseball in a village like Cooperstown. In the spring of 1937, the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce formally requested the issue of a commemorative stamp celebrating the Centennial of Baseball in Cooperstown. The Leatherstocking Stamp Club lobbied for support of this effort on behalf of the Philatelic Society. The United States Congress approved the request, and for the first time, a sport was depicted on a stamp. William Roach, an artist for the Bureau of Engraving, depicted a village scene with boys playing baseball. Postmaster General Farley claimed the village was his hometown of Grassy Point, New York. However, as Roach explained much later, the village depicted a site in Milford, Delaware.

With a third term for President Roosevelt in question, Farley had his eye on the White House. As such, the Postmaster General never missed an opportunity to promote his candidacy or his love of baseball. Farley dispatched cancellation equipment and nearly 50 additional personnel to ensure the success of the postal effort. More than 398,000 stamps were cancelled in Cooperstown that day. Farley teamed with Hannagan to issue a national press release ensuring that every child would have an opportunity to receive a "first day" cancellation of the Centennial Baseball stamp. However, it was the Village Postmaster, Mr. Melvin Bundy, who insisted on paying the necessary postage out of his own pocket, for any child that forgot to include the three pennies for the stamp.

The importance of the stamp cannot be understated as the national attention that resulted insured the success of baseball's 100th birthday and a celebration of the Centennial of Baseball across the globe.

The Postal Service work started just after seven a.m. on June 12th and the crowds of hundreds waited hours to get their First Day Covers cancelled.

The dedication of the Museum and Hall of Fame started at noon, and just before that dignitaries came to the post office to share in the festivities. The Postmaster General presented his guests, who crowded the tiny post office, with personally signed sheets of stamps and specially made Centennial Souvenir Caps.
1- Postmaster General James Farley sell's Stamp Sheet to Commissinor Kenesaw Landis Frick & Heyd.jpg 2- Farley Autographs Sheets for Warren Giles Bill McKechnie Bill Terry & Clark Griffth.jpg

[JMEnglish27]

Great photos. I love how every shot of Landis looks like he's about to rip someone or something to pieces. "Son, don't MAKE me climb over this counter!"

[da-bullman]

Farley wanted to be President so bad he burned to many bridges on the way. When Roosevelt ran for the third term he cut Farley out of the picture and Fraley was replaced as Postmaster General. Your right Farley was SOB !!!Check out my Web Site www.1939baseball.com Thanks Steve

[Scott Garner]

Great post, John!

[da-bullman]

Thanks Scott your the best. Steve

[sayhey24]

Love that hat!

Greg

[da-bullman]

Thanks for checking my post you may like my Web Site WWW.1939baseball.com All the best Steve

[Leon]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. Great website too!!

[da-bullman]

Thanks for your post and sharing your incite about baseball collecting read with interest your posting and auctions. All the best Steve

[minibatsman]

got any info on this bat? the second photo it looks like a bat just like this one is sitting on the table?

[sayhey24]

Those mini souvenir bats were made by Spalding for the 1939 Centennial celebration in Cooperstown.
Here's an original letter from Spalding to the HOF, included with it was the original drawing of the logo submitted for the Hall's approval (note the logo mistakenly says 1639-1939, instead of 1839-1939).

Greg

[minibatsman]

this post made my day my grandparents collected stamps and in 1970? bought there first and only home in salem NH . with there stamp collection. I would get a old/new stamp from a plate block and filled my scott stamp catalog . I remember asking my grand farther were should I put the stamps that had righting on them. they were the stamps from this game and probably got me started collecting mini bats when I found a bat that matched the stamps I had.
the second photo in the first post is only the second bat that I have seen from this game. I no the players signed plate blocks of the stamps and explains why they can be found.
but were are the bats ?.

[Shoeless Moe]

your write.

[Scott Garner]

[minibatsman]

Originally Posted by sayhey24

Those mini souvenir bats were made by Spalding for the 1939 Centennial celebration in Cooperstown.
Here's an original letter from Spalding to the HOF, included with it was the original drawing of the logo submitted for the Hall's approval (note the logo mistakenly says 1639-1939, instead of 1839-1939).

Greg

Does that book have any information or do you have any information about how many bats were made? I also have a 39 Joe Di,maggio mini decal bat whistle that came from this game?. different decal but does say 100th anniversary 1939 cooperstown. good luck finding one of those

[da-bullman]

Your right it is the bat, The doubleday bat was a popular souvenir.

[da-bullman]

Great information on the Spalding letter did not know that. Check out my web site www.1939baseball.com PS lived in Salem for 10 years then on to Dunbarton NH.

[minibatsman]

nice to meet you my dad is in windham i am in bama. I was told there reopening Rockingham. I no the person doing the demo and he is selling old doors and stuff? cheep better hurry if your interested. I sold trotting forms there in the 60s I was 9 my first job. The mini bat I am always trying to put some history to these bats like your 39 site I would like to do something similar with mini bats. It is not often one comes along that can be dated and even less common to find one in a photo. would you men allow me to use those photos you posted? any info you could offer on this bat would be great full. as popular as they may have been the owners must still be very proud of them. because your photo is the only other 39 mini bat I have ever seen?.
thanks bobby perrault

[da-bullman]

I have about 15 mini bats from 1939 some on my web site
www.1939baseball.com my interest is the Centennial of Baseball most are events related like amateur National Torments most are made by national company's I will get some photos later. All the best Steve

[minibatsman]

you have a realy great site I spent hours reading everything. I have some pen and pencils that resemble some of them.
the mini bat I posted a photo off and I am trying to find out some info about this bat. I didn't see one. there was a full sized one autographed by all 10 of the first inductees in the hall. that was years ago that has been the only other one I have seen. the spalding book on this post about the emblem made my day.
minibats are a obsession of mine I am trying to find out anything I can when I get the opertunity to do so. can you help I just don't think they made them?.
every other bat I have seen are H&B.

[minibatsman]

Originally Posted by sayhey24

Those mini souvenir bats were made by Spalding for the 1939 Centennial celebration in Cooperstown.
Here's an original letter from Spalding to the HOF, included with it was the original drawing of the logo submitted for the Hall's approval (note the logo mistakenly says 1639-1939, instead of 1839-1939).

Greg

Do you no if these bats were actually made? I have been collecting minibats for years. besides the photo in the first post I have not seen another?.

[da-bullman]

There are two different Spalding Cooperstown bats one is a decal type the other is Wood Burned in visit my web site www.1939baseball.com under collection Assorted Centennial Souvenirs some of the 1939 mini bats are there. All the Best Steve