Mel Ott Signed Baseball - Displays as a Single - JSA

Official National League baseball (Harridge) signed by Hall of Fame slugger Mel Ott on the sweet spot. Ott has scripted his name in blue ink. According to JSA, there are signatures removed to give the ball the appearance of a Mel Ott single. The professional removal or covering of signatures on baseballs has become a cottage industry in recent times, carried out by a few skilled practitioners. Though many purists deride such practices, there are also collectors who welcome the service. Single-signed balls did not become the ideal for autograph collectors until the late 1980s/early 1990s. As a result, acquiring single-signed balls for many of the early Hall of Famers is quite difficult for the average collector due to their rarity and exorbitant prices. Examples such as this, though not truly "single signed," offer the same aesthetic appeal and provide a more economical alternative to a true single-signed ball for many collectors. Ott is a rare signature alone on a ball due to his death in 1958 at the age of 49. The ball has a black mark and abrasions on the north panel (to remove signatures), but otherwise in Excellent condition overall. Full LOA from James Spence/JSA. Opening Bid $1,000.

Fall 2023 - Item detail

Mel Ott Signed Baseball - Displays as a Single - JSA