Cayey honors ‘Piculín’ with US Postal Service pictorial postmark
By THE STAR STAFF
Cayey Mayor Rolando Ortiz Velázquez commended the organizers, citizens and athletes who gathered earlier this week at the Casa de la Música (House of Music) -- alongside representatives from the United States Postal Service (USPS) and members of the community -- to honor the legacy of one of the most iconic figures in Puerto Rican basketball: José Rafael “Piculín” Ortiz Rijos.
“Thank you for loving my son so much and for continuing to remember him,” Doña Elba Rijos, mother of the famed player from Cayey, said Tuesday in an expression of gratitude during a special pictorial postmark ceremony hosted by the USPS. “You cannot imagine the joy my family, my daughters, and I feel upon seeing all this affection.”
Doña Elba reminisced about her son’s early years, recalling how he would leave home carrying a baseball bat, only to return without it because he had stayed behind to play in the neighborhood. Her words captured the emotion of a mother witnessing how the town continues to remember and celebrate her son’s legacy. The event brought together enthusiasts of history, sports and philately. Historian and professor Dr. Aida Mendoza noted the background of the Cayey philatelic group, which was founded in 2023 with the goal of highlighting significant local events and figures through the use of pictorial postmarks.
Previous initiatives by the group include commemorations of Cayey’s 250th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the Tuna de Cayey (a traditional musical ensemble).
On this occasion, the group dedicated a postal item to “Piculín,” whose legacy remains firmly embedded in the history of Puerto Rican sports. For her part, Rep. Gretchen Hau Irizarry shared a message about the athlete’s life and career in the Superior National Basketball league, with the Puerto Rican national team in the Olympics and other international tournaments, and in the NBA, highlighting his significance to Puerto Rico and the pride he inspires in generations of islanders.
Representing the USPS, Ramón Rivera Ferrer shared a personal experience involving “Piculín,” whom he had the opportunity to assist while working at a post office in Guaynabo.
He recalled the athlete’s commanding voice and reflected on how the basketball player created indelible memories for Puerto Ricans -- both for those who knew him personally and for those who followed his career from the stands or from their own homes.
The pictorial postmark features a design that includes the name “Cayey,” the date Oct. 23, 2026, the ZIP code 00736, the number 4 -- which Ortiz Rijos wore on the court -- and his portrait. The design was created by artist Javier Vélez, who received recognition for his contribution to thE initiative.
The special postmark will be used for 30 days at the Cayey post office to stamp envelopes and postage. In this way, the initiative is a point of interest for collectors and serves as a lasting memento of the recognition Puerto Rico bestows upon one of its greatest sports icons.
