Help with rare Mel Ott
 

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8a883c8628.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f2cdf6c0ef.jpg

Anyone able to put a date on this Australian Mel Ott (aka O.H. Melville!) card or provide further info on the set?

The owner believed the set to be circa 1926-27 but it does seem odd Ott would be considered a “big gun baller” that early in his career.

Thanks!
Jason

very interesting. I have certainly never heard of this issue before and I've been around the block a few times.

The image on the card does appear to match up with this type I photo from 1926 that I own:

https://photos.imageevent.com/derekg...1926%20Ott.jpg

Never heard of this series before. Reminds me of Frederick Foto.

There is a more detailed description of the Ott card, the set and the sponsor of the set in the current issue of Old Cardboard eMagazine.

See: Downunder Discovery Uncovers Mel Ott Rookie Card

https://oldcardboard.com/eNews/2020/.../eMag176.htm#3

Lyman

Lyman - that's incredible! Thanks for the link to the oldcardboard write-up on the card. Me likey!!!!

oldcardboard should use my image as a photomatch to the Griffith's Goblin Merrymints Ott. Did I mention that I LOVE new finds like this. When will the owner be auctioning or selling this card? I'd be a potential buyer!

Derek, glad you enjoyed the article. Yes, I will plan to replace the B&W image in the article with yours. The current Ott image is a close match but definitely a different Giants jersey. How did you determine that the image is from 1926? That certainly is consistent with the 1926-28 dates that he estimated for the set.

Most of the info in the article came from Stephen Flemming, a veteran Australian collector that I quoted in the article. He also wishes that he owned the card. The card belongs to a fellow collector of his and I don't believe it is for sale.

Happy Holidays to all,
Lyman

My guess is that the guy who wrote "O.H. Melville" was reading from a handwritten note that said, "Ott, Melvin" From his stats, Ott was a very good player by the 1928 season, and maybe played well at the end of 1927.

I bet that's it. Anyway, what a great card for RC collectors to covet now.

[QUOTE=jason.1969;2046495][/IMG]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f2cdf6c0ef.jpg

Interesting that they describe Ott as a 'baller'. I thought this was strictly a 21st century slang term. Perhaps Aussies way back in 1920's were using it to describe athletes in sports that use balls?

Brian

baller = ballplayer.

Hi Lyman -

Here's the back of the photo, taken, used and stamped in March 1926, during spring training. Check out the slug of "the baller"!

https://photos.imageevent.com/derekg...%20_back_.jpeg

There's absolutely no way this card is from earlier than 1928 and was very likely issued at least 1 or 2 years later. Ott was not a "big gun baller" with a "large salary" that early in his career. He hit zero HR in 35 games in 1926 and one in 82 games in 1927. Ott hit 18 HR in 1928, but 1929 is when he really became a star with 42 HR and 151 RBI. The fact that the photo is from 1926 really doesn't mean anything because photos were very often used for cards several years after being taken.