Personalized postage stamps :
In 2004, the USPS decided to allow certain companies to facilitate the making of custom US postage stamps that could be used as actual postage. Several companies provided the stamps printed with images provid the customer.
In 2020 the USPS discontinued the practice, due in part to legal issues of people uploading images that infringed on trademark or copyrights, use of graphic or inappropriate images and loss of revenue by the USPS in selling their own stamps
The history of professional baseball in Charleston, dates back to 1910, and a team known as the Charleston Statesmen of the Class D Virginia Valley League. In 1911, the Statesmen moved to the Class D Mountain State League, and then folded after that year. A new team, the Charleston Senators was formed in 1914 and lasted three seasons in the Class D Ohio State League.
1931-1943, a new Senators team joined the Class C Mid-Atlantic League as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
1949-1960, the Senators were reformed as a member of the Class A Central League. In 1952, the city was granted a franchise in the Triple-A American Association. Affiliations with the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and the Washington Senators.
1962, the Charleston Indians, affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, Class-A Eastern League, and in 1963 that league was elevated to Double-A. The team folded after the 1964 season.
1971-1983 the Charleston Charlies of the Triple-A International League. Affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and Cleveland Indians.
1987-1994, Charleston Wheelers, began as a co-op team, with players from several Major League Baseball franchises including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves.
1995 the Charleston Alley Cats were established as a Class A South Atlantic League affiliate, initially for the Cincinnati Reds.
Ernest Banks (1931 – 2015) American professional baseball player who starred in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs between 1953 and 1971. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 in his first year of eligibility, and was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999.
Albert Kaline (December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger" - American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons (1953-1974) in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980 in his first year of eligibility. 1983 marked Kaline's 30th year with the Tigers organization
Career 1968-1979: Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, New York Mets
Commentary: I found the cover on ebay, along with a signed baseball card with an asking price of over $600.00. Not in my price range. It is an interesting cover
Ben Grieve (Oakland Athletics) and Kerry Woods (Chicago Cubs) Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards
Juan González (Texas Rangers) and Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs) Most Valuable Player Awards
Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young
Todd Helton - American professional baseball first baseman who played his entire 17-year career for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). A five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, and three-time Gold Glove Award winner, Helton holds the Rockies' club records for hits (2,519), home runs (369), doubles (592), walks (1,335), runs scored (1,401), runs batted in (RBIs, with 1,406), games played (2,247), and total bases (4,292)
Jim Thorpe (1887 – 1953) was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. A citizen of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe was the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States in the Olympics. Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, he won two Olympic gold medals in the 1912 Summer Olympics (one in classic pentathlon and the other in decathlon). He also played football (collegiate and professional), professional baseball, and professional basketball.
Thorpe grew up in the Sac and Fox Nation in Indian Territory (what is now the U.S. state of Oklahoma)
