Color illustration in the middle of the button of a person's head in profile next to half of another person's face with a light brown outer edge with white text

This button was used to help commemorate "National American Indian Heritage Month."  U.S. President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution declaring November "National American Indian Heritage Month."  Since 1994, other proclamations have been announced using the names "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month."  Heritage Month presents education opportunities to the general public about tribes and raises awareness of Native Americans.

Black text on a white background with red outlined text above and an illustration of stars on a blueish purple background

Founded in 1889, The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) is an American labor union, representing letter carriers employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS). The NALC has 2,500 branches in the the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam. Over 93% of letter carriers are members of the NALC, and the union is recognized as the bargaining agent for all carriers. Membership in the NALC is completely voluntary. This button is most likely referring to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the NALC which would have occurred in 1989.

Black and pink text and an illustration of a pink dinosaur skeleton on a white background

The National Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS) is a special fraternity of more than 42,000 other Postmasters. NAPUS has state organizations called chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands. The chapters conduct state conventions where chapter officers are elected, proposed policy changes are debated, Postmaster training is conducted, scholarships are presented, and members can socialize with one another.

In 2000, Utah held its state convention in Vernal, a city known for Dinosaur National Monument, a protected area where thousands of dinosaur fossils and footprints were discovered in 1909, which is why the button depicts a dinosaur fossil. Donna Peaks is most likely a reference to the one time USPS Vice President, Finance, Controller of the same name. 

Color illustration of two people and a cat-like animal with a blue background and a white outer edge with black text

National Hispanic Heritage Month originated in 1968 as a way to celebrate Hispanic Americans and their culture which is contribued to American society.  The decision to celebrate in September is a result of five Central American countries celebrating their independence at that time.  Every year the President issues a Proclamation to designate the time of September as National Hispanic Heritage Month.  On September 14th, 1995, President Clinton issued Proclamation 6823 honoring National Hispanic Heritage Month.  

Color illustration in the center of the button with a blue outer edge with black text

This button was used to help commemorate "National American Indian Heritage Month."  U.S. President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution declaring November "National American Indian Heritage Month."  Since 1994, other proclamations have been announced using the names "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month."  Heritage Month presents education opportunities to the general public about tribes and raises awareness of Native Americans.

Colorful illustration of a person in a landscape with an outer brown edge with black text

This button was used to help commemorate "National American Indian Heritage Month."  U.S. President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution declaring November "National American Indian Heritage Month."  Since 1994, other proclamations have been announced using the names "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month."  Heritage Month presents education opportunities to the general public about tribes and raises awareness of Native Americans.

Black and white photo of a baseball player with black text

Born in 1916, Philip Joseph Cavarretta was a Major League Baseball first baseman, outfielder, and manager. Cavarretta played for 20 seasons with the Cubs from 1934-1953, and was voted National League Most Valuable Player in 1945 after leading the Cubs to winning the pennant and batting with a .355 average. Cavarretta became a manager of the Cubs in 1951 until moving to the White Sox in 1954, where he ended his career in the Major Leagues. He then became a manager for the minor leagues from 1956 to 1958 and again from 1965-1972. During his career, Cavarretta had a .293 batting average with 95 home runs and 920 runs batted in (RBI). Cavarretta died of complications from a stroke in 2010, and was also battling leukemia at the time of his death.

Read more about the History of Cubs Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Black and white photo of a baseball player with black text

Born in 1909, Stanley Camfield Hack, nicknamed "Smiling Stan," was a third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Hack played his entire career for the Chicago Cubs and was the top third baseman in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Hack is considered one of the greatest Cubs of all time, ranking second in games at third base, and also second in putouts, assists, and total chances, and third in double plays in National League history. Hack also led the National League in hits and stolen bases twice, and had a .301 batting average. 

Hack quickly became a popular player, and in 1935, fans were given mirrors with a picture of Stan on the back side, with the words, “Smile with Stan”. Unfortunately, the fans used the mirrors to reflect the sun into the eyes of the opposing team, and the mirrors were quickly banned from the stadium. After retiring from baseball, Hack became a minor league coach and batting coach from 1948-1966, and finally a restaurant manager with his second wife. Hack died at the age of 70 in 1979.

Read more about the History of Cubs Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Black and white photo of a baseball player with black text.

Born in 1908, William “Billy” Frederick Jurges was a shortstop, manager, coach, and scout in Major League Baseball. Jurges played for the Chicago Cubs for his first eight seasons from 1931-1938, and later played seven more seasons for the New York Giants from 1939-1945. During his time with the Cubs, he played in three World Series, the Cubs winning in 1932, 1935, and 1938. From 1946-1947, Jurges was a player-coach for the Cubs, and later a coach for the Boston Red Sox and a baseball scout for many years. Jurges died in 1997 after a six-year battle with cancer at the age of 88.

Perhaps overshadowing his time in baseball was a strange event that happened in July, 1932 when Jurges’s ex-girlfriend, lounge singer Violet Valli, came to Jurges’s hotel room to confront him with a gun. She claimed her plan was to commit suicide, but Jurges intervened and took two bullets, one to his hand and another in the ribs. Valli was also shot in the hand, and the entire incident is said to be the inspiration for the book and film, The Natural, starring Robert Redford. Jurges didn’t press charges, and he returned to the Cubs after he recovered.

Read more about the History of Cubs Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Black and white photo of a baseball player with black text

Born in 1911, George “Tuck” Stainback was a major league baseball outfielder for several teams, including the Chicago Cubs (1934–1937), St. Louis Cardinals (1938), Philadelphia Phillies (1938), Brooklyn Dodgers (1938–1939), Detroit Tigers (1940–1941), New York Yankees (1942–1945), and Philadelphia Athletics (1946). He competed in two World Series and finished his career with a btting average of .259. An LA native, Stainback returned to the area after retiring from baseball, and then became an executive for the Dodgers after they moved to LA in 1958. He developed group ticket sales and supervised the Dodgers’ Knothole program, which treated children to free baseball games. Stainback died in 1992 as the result of a stroke. 

Read more about the History of Cubs Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.