O'Dell Dean was the staff cartoonist for the Dayton News during the WWI era, and in addition to lettering and comic strips, produced an illustration and some related cartoons for player profiles featured in the Sport Review section in the Dayton Sunday News each week. His illustrations were usually featured on the front page of each week's edition, and typically featured baseball players, often from the Dayton Veterans of the Class B Central League, in addition to featuring more nationally-recognized figures from the majors.  

Presented here are two original pieces of art that we have conclusively dated to 1916 based on their publication in the Dayton Sunday News. The first features catcher Otto Jacobs, then of the Veterans.  Initially published on May 21 of 1916, the cartoon refers to former major leaguer Johnny Nee, manager of the Veterans, and his signing of Jacobs. 

The second piece features another catcher, future Hall of Famer Ray Schalk.  Published on July 30 of 1916, the cartoons highlight Schalk catching Ed Walsh, his propensity to catch foul pops in the stands, and his baserunning.

Both pieces are largely pen and ink drawings that consist of two separate pieces - the portrait illustration, which is mounted on a board that is flanked by the cartoon illustrations.  Each piece measures approximately 23" x 18", and has been mounted on a custom cut, black matte that measures 25" x 19".  We have elected to leave each piece attached to its matte because the mattes are doing an excellent job of protecting the illustrations, but they are only mounted with artist's tape and can be easily removed.  Condition of both is strong, with some wear and folds, and some discoloration and staining consistent with how one might imagine art boards might become after being drawn on and shaded, and lasting more than a century.  The Shalk piece does have a small puncture in the upper-left cartoon image, at the "SH" in "Walsh."  Two attractive original illustrations, as published in the Dayton Sunday News in 1916.