1942 Mel Ott Game Worn New York Giants Jersey, MEARS A9 -- Photo Matched!...

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Master Melvin's first year as Giants manager, last year as N.L. home run leader!

1942 Mel Ott Game Worn New York Giants Jersey, MEARS A9 -- Photo Matched! For nearly three decades, this high-stepping slugger reigned as Home Run King of the Senior Circuit, surpassing Rogers Hornsby in 1937 and occupying the throne until fellow Giants legend Willie Mays deposed him in 1966. This 1942 season would find Ott leading the National League in home runs for the sixth and final time in his twenty-two years in the Bigs, his thirty long balls looking all the more impressive when considering he likewise led the league in walks (109). Other league-leading tallies for 1942 include WAR (7.2), runs scored (118) and OPS (.912). He'd place third in 1942 MVP balloting, the highest finish of his career.

With Bill Terry settling into retirement after the 1941 season, Ott was the clear choice for a successor, and he'd help shift the team's fortunes eleven games to the positive in this first year at the helm, finishing at 85-67. In short, this was a particularly eventful season for this third member of the 500 Home Run Club.

This garment is a dazzling survivor from the Polo Grounds wardrobe, the creamy white flannel maintaining its original blue and red felt "Giants" across the chest and long-retired number "4" on verso. The rarest form of the war-years "Health" patch, used only in 1942, remains affixed in place at left sleeve. Front zipper is likewise original, as well as fully functional. Interior collar holds "Spalding" label and embroidered "M. Ott" swatch, while lower left rear interior tail holds "42" size tag and a second number "42" embroidered in red directly into the jersey body as a year indicator. Red and blue soutache runs the perimeter of zipper path and collar, with some loose stitching but no detachment of the trim itself. A small team repair appears near armpit of left sleeve, identified as period original in the LOA.

The lost point in the otherwise perfect MEARS rating is derived from a combination of the post-Major League sleeve shortening--a common alteration for spring training and/or farm club wear--and general soiling and material wear. Game use is assessed as "heavy," but we'd again emphasize that the aesthetics remain wonderfully strong, particularly for a jersey of such advanced age.

The experts at Sports Investors Authentication have matched the garment to photographs dated April 15 (6-4 victory over Dodgers, 1-for-2 with two walks) and May 20 (3-6 loss to Cubs, 3-for-4 with 6 total bases and 2 RBI's). This is just the second Ott gamer that Heritage has had the privilege to present, and the first since a 1938 roadster commanded $334,600 over a decade ago. LOA from MEARS, A9. LOA from Heritage Auctions. LOA from Sports Investors Authentication.