Mel Ott was the best National League home run hitter over the course of his 22 years with the New York Giants. Ott was the rare slugger who also produced a high on-base percentage — he led the NL in on-base percentage four times and finished with a .414 lifetime mark. In 1937 Ott broke Rogers Hornsby’s National League record of 298 homers. Each of Ott’s next 213 round trippers extended the mark. By the time he retired, Ott slugged 511 home runs, an NL mark that would stand until Willie Mays surpassed it in 1966. In the collection is a handwritten letter from the Giant’s star written on October 1, 1958.

All of Harry Danning’s ten big league seasons were spent with the New York Giants as a teammate of Mel Ott. In this pair of handwritten letters, Danning offers his recollections of Ott. “Mell Ott was one of the finest men that has been my privilege to meet and know in my lifetime — he was a great ball player.” In content worth reading, Danning goes on in both letters about what an outstanding person and player Ott was.

The New York Giants catcher from 1933-42, Harry Danning made five consecutive all star games from 1938-1941. Danning also received support in MVP voting in six seasons. Shown here is a reprint of Dannings 1940 Play Ball card. The catcher has signed it and added the inscription, “1939 NY Giants”. During that season, Danning was one of five Giants to hit a homer in the fourth inning to set a team mark. The following season Danning hit for the cycle in an unconventional way by hitting an inside-the-park homer. No player since has done matched the feat.