Mel Bailey passed away in 2014. He stopped shooting around 2004. I don’t think he produced too many postcards after 1994 or so. At this point, Kodak was no longer producing much of the postcard stock. He did produce 4x6 color photos and would usually write the players’ names on the bottom center.
Mel sold to about 35 regular customers and would advertise in collectors’ publications. Typically, they were team collectors. They would usually get one of each player for each season. Mel would print multiples of some popular players if he thought he might sell them, but I’ve never really seen more than a handful of the same postcard for sale.
MLB knew Mel, but let him fly under the radar regarding licensing because he wasn’t doing it on a large scale and only doing it for collectors.
If someone requested an older image, Mel would print a postcard in later years; however, I’ve only noticed that with images of the 1961 Yankees and some 1960’s players liked Ernie Banks and Brooks Robinson. Most of them seem like they were printed the year they were taken, based on the rough edges. Also, there really aren’t that many out to there of star players. The Nolan Ryan one shown in this thread is a perfect example. Popular players, but only a handful ever come up for sale. Probably part of an Angels team run.
Mel shot for Baseball America and Street and Smith. He shot many minor league players like Elway in Oneonta and Griffey Jr. in San Bernadino.
Mel typically wrote the players’ names and year in pencil in the upper left-hand corner. Jim Rowe used all capital letters in the top center. George Brace wrote in the top center in very tiny print (pen). Ed Broder would write on a diagonal in sharper using all lower-case letters. If I’m incorrect on any of these, please let me know.
I’ve rambled on long enough here.
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