Willie Mays, Pat Summitt, Bigfoot and Mothman Headline USPS 2027 Stamp Lineup

The U.S. Postal Service has revealed the first group of stamps planned for 2027, with a lineup spanning sports legends, mythical creatures, holidays and commemorative designs that should give collectors plenty to chase. Among the biggest names is baseball legend Willie Mays, who will be honored with the 50th stamp in the USPS Black Heritage series. The design is particularly notable for sports collectors because USPS says it was created as an homage to classic baseball cards.

The Mays stamp uses two photographs, including a portrait of him as a New York Giant and an image of his famous over-the-shoulder catch during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. An orange background references a color closely associated with Mays during his career with the New York and San Francisco Giants and later the New York Mets. USPS art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp using Getty Images photographs.

Legendary University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt will also receive a stamp in 2027. Summitt led Tennessee to 1,098 victories and eight national championships during 38 seasons with the program, helping elevate women’s basketball nationally. Her stamp features an oil-on-primed-linen portrait by Roberto Parada, with USPS art director Ethel Kessler handling the design.

Another release likely to attract collectors is Mythical Creatures, a five-stamp set devoted to some of America’s best-known cryptids and folkloric animals. The lineup includes Mothman, the red-eyed winged creature associated with West Virginia; the antlered rabbit known as the Jackalope; Pennsylvania folklore’s perpetually unhappy Squonk; Sasquatch, better known as Bigfoot; and Champ, the legendary lake monster associated with Lake Champlain in New York and Vermont. Artist Nat Power created the creatures digitally using bold black linework and vivid colors inspired by tattoo art. Alcalá designed the stamps.

USPS is also going deeper into fantasy with a pane of 16 Unicorns stamps featuring four different scenes by artist Kendra Binney. The mixed-media artwork combines watercolor, acrylic, pencil and digital effects to create what USPS describes as dreamlike forest scenes.

Halloween will receive a new stamp set as well. Four designs feature friendly versions of a vampire, witch, mummy and Frankenstein’s monster, with artwork by Erick Martinez.

The 2027 lineup will continue the Postal Service’s Lunar New Year series with the Year of the Goat. It is the eighth stamp in the current Lunar New Year series, which began in 2020. Artist Camille Chew created the cut-paper goat mask used in the design.

Collectors will also see several traditional USPS themes return. The annual Love stamp features folk-art-inspired geometric imagery by Lisa Congdon, while Colorful Blooms will offer four floral designs illustrated by Magrikie Berg. A new Celebrate stamp is planned for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, new jobs, retirements and other occasions, while a Veggies Forever booklet will include 20 stamps featuring 10 different vegetable photographs. Subjects include red onion, Savoy cabbage, purple cauliflower, beech mushrooms, artichoke and watermelon radish.

The American flag will receive another new design in 2027 as the country marks the 250th anniversary of the Stars and Stripes. Alcalá photographed the flag at Alexandria City Hall in Virginia and also designed the stamp. USPS will also issue an E Pluribus Unum stamp pairing the nation’s founding motto with an image of the Statue of Liberty created from different-sized red and blue dots against a white background.

A new Cure Childhood Cancers semipostal stamp will raise funds for childhood cancer research. Net proceeds from its surcharge will be donated to the National Institutes of Health.

Several stamps designed around invitations and correspondence are also planned, including You’re Invited — Wedding Edition, With Love and You’re Invited — For All Occasions. The Wedding Edition is a 2-ounce stamp intended for heavier formal invitations, while the All Occasions issue will be offered in multiple colors.

The November announcement is only the beginning. USPS says the 2027 subjects revealed so far represent a partial list, with additional stamps expected to be announced over the coming weeks and months. The designs shown are also preliminary and could change before release.