Have a ball Forever Stamps

Issued: June 14, 2017
First Day City: Hartford, WI
Type of Stamp: First-Class Mail
Printed by: Ashton Potter Ltd.
Method: Offset

For millennia, people around the world have enjoyed ball games as both entertainment and community events. One of the earliest recorded examples, ullamaliztli, was played by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs and resembled today’s social sporting gatherings.

Living in lush rainforests, these Mesoamerican civilizations crafted solid rubber balls from the Castilla elastica tree. The game required players to propel a nine-pound ball using only their hips, aiming it through a 20-foot-high stone hoop — a feat that often left players battered and bruised.

Archaeological discoveries of ball courts from Nicaragua to Arizona reveal the game’s widespread popularity. Though its original rules are long lost, ullamaliztli left a lasting cultural legacy, with some communities still playing modified versions today.

Much like those ancient gatherings, modern U.S. sporting events bring people together to celebrate, compete, and enjoy shared experiences. From betting and parties to civic pride, sports remain woven into the fabric of American culture.

To honor this universal love of sports, the U.S. Postal Service issued the Have A Ball! stamps on June 14, 2017. Designed by Mike Ryan under the art direction of Greg Breeding, the pane of 16 features eight vibrant, textured designs. A special coating gives each stamp a tactile feel, celebrating the joy, energy, and enduring appeal of ball games throughout history.