USPS sets record for preorders with baseball stamps

Below, excerpts from Timothy R. Smith's story in Monday's Washington Post.

An upcoming series of baseball forever stamps has set a new record for U.S. Postal Service preorders.

A week out from issue, the Postal Service has 1.5 million preorders for a four-stamp series of Hall of Fame sluggers Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Cleveland Indian Larry Doby (the first black player in the American League) and Pittsburgh Pirate Willie Stargell.

The Postal Service has held online pennant race — known as Stamps Batted In — since April to stir interest in the stamps.

So far, Joe DiMaggio — who recently passed Williams — is leading with 421,266 votes against 417,066 for Williams, 340,646 for Stargell, and 332,566 for Doby.

"DiMaggio has dethroned Williams — for now — and there's just a week left for Larry Doby or Willie Stargell fans to take the pennant," said Stephen Kearney, director of stamp services. "We're confident they'll step up to the plate."

The competition ends July 19, prior to the July 23 baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Cooperstown, N.Y. The stamps will be issued Friday.

Block of four stamps (one of each player): $1.80.