You don’t have to be dead…

… to be shown on a U.S. postage stamp anymore.  Yesterday the USPS made the announcement that the restriction that a person has to be dead for five years (it used to be 10 years) before appearing as the subject on a U.S. stamp was lifted.  The feedback on this decision is coming out from all corners of philately, including from members (current and former) of the CSAC.  There’s a short recap of some members’ thoughts at VirtualStampClub today.  I’m not sure if I like this policy change or not.  With the minimum years dead requirement, it gave me a little headway and a method for predicting what stamp subjects might be issued in future years.  But, with this change, there are more chances that a prominent American’s achievements might be shown on a stamp that shows a connection to March 4. 

This leads to the question of who might appear next on a stamp connected to March 4.  Currently on The List, we have quite a few potential candidates who are now possible subjects for U.S. stamps as of 2012.  The most likely to appear on stamps, in my opinion based primarily on how recognizable the names are to me, are:

• Actress Phoebe Cates marries actor Kevin Kline on March 4, 1989.
• Peggy Fleming wins the Worlds Ladies Figure Skating Champion in Vienna on March 4, 1967
• George Foreman, refused to fight Tony Tucker and lost the WBA boxing title on March 4, 1995.
• Joe Frazier TKOs Buster Mathis in 11 for the heavyweight boxing title on March 4, 1968.
• Gloria Gaither, American gospel songwriter, born March 4, 1942.
• Michael Jordan comes to bat for the first time in a Chicago White Sox uniform, playing in a spring training game on March 4, 1994.
• Ray Mancini, American boxer, born March 4, 1961.
• Ed Manning, American basketball player and coach, died March 4, 2011.
• Jason Marsalis, American musician, born March 4, 1977.
• Stan Musial ends his holdout with the St. Louis Cardinals and signs a one-year contract for $31,000 on March 4, 1948.
• Rick Perry, 47^th Governor of Texas, current U.S. Presidential hopeful candidate, born March 4, 1950.
• Manny Ramirez, signed a $45 million, two-year contract to play for the L.A. Dodgers on March 4, 2009.

If I was going to pick the top three most likely subjects from this list, I would put Stan Musial, Michael Jordan and George Foreman in that order.  So now we wait and see if any of these people are honored on a stamp starting with next year’s stamp program.

Take a look at The List and tell me, who do you think will appear first?