Fall Premier Auction 2017

The “All-America Board of Baseball” was founded in 1924 by baseball’s first “super agent” Christy Walsh as a way to honor the best player at each position each year. This exclusive all-star team was selected by various sportswriters along with Walsh’s biggest client, Babe Ruth. In 1938 Mel Ott was the obvious choice for best centerfielder as the giants star had led the National League in home runs, on base percentage and runs scored. The players selected by the All-America Board of Baseball were presented with a certificate and a custom athletic sweater. This is the one awarded to Ott in 1938, and is constructed of a brilliant blue wool body with an “All America” shield patch on the chest. The sleeves and bottom edge are trimmed with red, white and blue and there are two internal pockets. The collar has a special “All-America Board of Baseball Official Sweater” label with a white strip tag with “Lyn Ott” (his daughter) printed on it along with his number “4” hand written twice in black fountain pen. The sweater shows heavy use with several holes, particularly above and around the shield patch on the front. The felt shield patch has frayed in parts and there are several stains visible, most noticeably on the back bottom left side. A rarely seen token of achievement awarded to only the elite players of the game. Ott family LOA.