A First Class Way

To Celebrate Baseball

Mark Favale loves baseball and he seems to really enjoy his job as Hawleyville Postmaster. On Friday, July 20, he showed his appreciation for both by offering pictorial cancellations in conjunction with the Legendary Playing Fields stamps that came out this summer.

As a community service, the Postal Service often offers pictorial cancellations commemorating local events celebrated in communities throughout the nation.

Mr Favale designed the baseball cancellation and, for the second year in a row, adorned the small post office with old baseball gloves, balls, and bats, as well as other memorabilia on the national pastime. The event is of special interest to local stamp collectors, but for Mr Favale, it’s just a way to honor the sport he loves and, at the same time, generate a little business. He even gave out popcorn.

“Whether playing a ball game in a dusty sandlot in the city, watching your child play on groomed suburban fields, or cheering for your favorite professional team on manicured lawns, there is always something special about the game and the field it is played on,” Mr Favale said. “We rely on the basics; the green grass, the striped lines and white bases, the fans in the stands, the taste of the popcorn and hot dogs. It always brings up memories of the past and present, all genuine American.”

The post office receives requests for the cancellations from baseball fans all over the country.

“Like baseball, the post office is part of every community, something we can rely on each and every day,” Mr Favale said. “This cancellation is our way of celebrating baseball, our friends and neighbors, and the part the neighborhood post office plays in our community.”

Those unable to make last week’s event can still obtain the cancellation by submitting a mail order request, which must be post marked no later than 30 days following the requested pictorial cancellation date.

All requests must include a self-addressed stamped envelope to return the cancellation in, and a stamped envelope or postcard bearing at least the minimum First-Class Mail postage. Items submitted for cancellation may not include postage issued after the date of the requested cancellation. Such items will be returned as “unserviced.”

Customers wishing to obtain a cancellation should affix stamps to any envelope or postcard of their choice, address the envelope or postcard to themselves or others, insert a card of postcard thickness in envelopes for sturdiness, and tuck in flap. Place the envelope in a larger envelope and address it to: Pictorial Cancellations, Legendary Fields Station, POB 9998, Hawleyville, CT 06440-9998.

Mr Favale’s favorite baseball team? The San Francisco Giants.