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All of Harry Danning’s ten seasons in the Major Leagues 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.”

From 1933-1942 when the two were teammates, Ott made 9 all star games. He averaged 29 homers and 104 RBI, a 159 OPS+, and a slash line of .304/.415/.533.

For his 22-year career, Ott hit .304 slugged 512 homers, drove in 1,860 runs.

In content worth reading, Danning goes on in both letters about what an outstanding person and player Ott was. Danning shows up in every list of the top-20 Jewish in Major League History.

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Harry Danning was a teammate of Mel Ott for each of his ten big league seasons. From 1933-1942 they teamed to help the Giants win three National League pennants and one World Series title.

Ott was the best National League home run hitter over the course of his 22 years with the New York Giants. He 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 establishing an NL record 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.

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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 Danning’s 1940 Play Ball card. The catcher has signed it and added the inscription, “1939 NY Giants”. On June 6th of 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 matched the feat. Danning is widely regarded as the greatest Jewish catcher in the history of the Major Leagues.

Danning’s saw some of the game’s most memorable moments. He was the opposing catcher when Lou Gehrig hit his final World Series home run and when Joe DiMaggio hit his first. Turning to All Star competition, Danning’s pitch call was shaken off by pitcher Claude Passeau before the hurler gave up Ted Williams’ unforgettable walk-off blast.