Willard Mullin's "Brooklyn Bum" cartoon character had such an impact that it became the Dodger mascot and unofficial nickname. Mullin's work appeared in the New York World-Telegram from 1934 until the paper closed in 1966. In 1971 he was cited by the cartoonists' association as sports cartoonist of the century. Yet, as Mullin explained in a 1974 letter to a man named Charlie Roberts who requested an original Mullin drawing, he did not possess a single one of over 12,000 drawings he'd done. "Maybe I can do something about an original," he concluded, "but don't hold your breath." Mullin delivered on the vow -- with a wonderful "Bum" drawing personally inscribed to Roberts. The classic image, framed under glass, pokes fun at Mullin not keeping his artwork, and is -- like the revealing letter -- obviously a one of a kind item of the legendary cartoonist who died in 1978. Letter and drawing both NRMT.