Mort Olshan
1926–2003
Mort Olshan was a pioneering sports-betting figure and founder of The Gold Sheet, the influential handicapping publication he launched at the start of the 1956 football season that provided meticulously researched analysis on professional and college games long before digital analytics became widespread. Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1926, Olshan grew up immersed in sports and, after serving in the Marines in World War II, worked with legendary odds-maker Leo “Wizard of Odds” Hirschfield before creating his own publication that set a new standard for disciplined, data-driven handicapping. Olshan was known for challenging exaggerated claims in the industry and building The Gold Sheet into an essential resource for bettors and bookmakers; his work continues to influence the modern sports-wagering landscape.