Negro Leagues stamp collection celebrated in Oak Brook

A few dozen stamp collectors and baseball purists got a dose of living history Friday in Oak Brook.

Two former Negro Leagues players, Johnny "Lefty" Washington and Hank "Baby" Presswood, shared stories of playing "black ball" and digging in against Satchel Paige during the annual American First Day Cover Society convention.

The former players were in town to attend the convention's dedication ceremony for the new Negro Leagues Baseball stamps issued last month by the U.S. Postal Service to honor early African-American baseball players and their contributions to the nation's culture and history.

One stamp depicts the umpire giving an emphatic "safe" sign as a player slides across home plate just ahead of the catcher's tag. The other is a portrait of Rube Foster, the African-American athlete, manager and businessman who formed the Negro National League in 1920.

"I wish I was on one (of the stamps)," joked Washington, who played pitcher, first base and outfield for the Houston Eagles and Chicago American Giants in the late 1940s, as well as the U.S. Marine national championship team in 1952. "But it's really a kind gesture and another avenue for folks to remember our era. I think they're beautifully done."

Presswood played shortstop and third base for the Cleveland Buckeyes and Kansas City Monarchs in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He also enjoyed the stamps.

"Don't collect 'em myself but it's a great photo," he said. "It's an honor for our game to be recognized."

Collectors attending the conference, which caters to collectors of first-day canceled stamps, said the stamps are likely to be a hit for a variety of reasons.

Cheryl Bussen, of Southern California, said the collection may not have drawn her attention if not for her baseball fan husband.

"He's not really into my collection but maybe this is going to get him more interested," she said. "I know he's going to want to see these and probably wishes he was here."

The annual conference features a national-level exhibition of first-day covers, commercial vendors, a forum by a postal official involved with first-day covers, seminars, meetings, a youth table, the Stamps in The Attic quick collection evaluation service, and several auctions.