Mel Ott
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mel Ott | ||
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| Outfielder | ||
| Born: March 2, 1909 Gretna, Louisiana |
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| Died: November 21, 1958 (aged 49) New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Batted: Left | Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | ||
| April 27, 1926 for the New York Giants |
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| Final game | ||
| July 11, 1947 for the New York Giants |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Batting average | .304 | |
| Home runs | 511 | |
| Hits | 2,876 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
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| Member of the National | ||
 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Elected | 1951 | |
| Vote | 87.2% (first ballot) | |
Melvin Thomas "Mel" Ott (March 2, 1909 – November 21, 1958), nicknamed "Master Melvin", was a Major League Baseball right fielder who played his entire career for the New York Giants (1926-1947). Ott was born in Gretna, Louisiana. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. The first National League player to surpass 500 home runs, he was unusually slight of stature for a power hitter, at 5'9" 170 lb.[1]
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[edit] Baseball career
In his 22-season career, Ott batted .304 with 511 home runs, 1,860 RBIs, 1,859 runs, 2,876 hits, 488 doubles, 72 triples, 89 stolen bases, a .414 on base percentage and a .533 slugging average.
[edit] A power hitter
He was a prolific home run hitter. He was 6-time NL home run leader, in 1932, 1934, 1936-38, and 1942. He was both the youngest player to hit 100 home runs and the first National Leaguer to hit 500 home runs. He passed Rogers Hornsby to become the all-time NL home run leader in 1937 and held that title until Willie Mays passed him in 1966. He also holds the major league record for leading his team in home runs, 18 consecutive years from 1928 to 1945. Because of the modern free agency era, this record might never be broken.
Because of his power hitting, he was noted for reaching base via the base on balls. He drew five walks in a game 3 times. He set the National League record for most walks in a doubleheader with six, on October 5, 1929 did it again on April 30, 1944. He tied an MLB record by drawing a walk in 7 consecutive plate appearances (June 16 through 18, 1943). He also led the NL in walks 6 times in 1929, 1931-33, 1937 and 1942.
He twice scored six runs in a game, on August 4, 1934 and on April 30, 1944. He hit for the cycle on (May 16, 1929). Ott was the first NL player to post eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons, and only Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa, and Chipper Jones have since joined him.
He used a batting style that was then considered unorthodox, lifting his forward (right) foot prior to impact. This style helped with his power-hitting. More recent players who used a similar style include Harold Baines and Kirby Puckett, as well as the Japanese home run king, Sadaharu Oh.
Although a legitimate power hitter, with an optimal hitting style for a small man, his overall total was helped by the cozy right field foul line at the Polo Grounds, only 258 feet away. In 1943, all of his 18 home runs came at home; only two others ever had a greater number of all-homefield home runs. Of Ott's 511 career home runs, 323 of them, or 63 percent, came at home. (Home Run Handbook, John Tattersall, 1975).
[edit] Postseason play
He played in the World Series in 1933, 1936 and 1937, winning in 1933.
He hit two home runs in the 1933 series. In game 1 he had four hits including a two run home run in the first. In game 5, he drove in the series winning run with two outs in the top of the 10th, driving a pitch into the center-field bleachers.
In the 1936 series he had 7 hits and 1 home run. In 1937 he had 4 hits and 1 home run.
[edit] Managing career
He managed the Giants for seven years between 1942 and 1948. The Giants best finish during that time was in third place in 1942. It was in reference to Ott's supposedly easygoing managing style that then-Dodgers manager Leo Durocher made the oft-quoted and somewhat out-of-context comment, "Nice guys finish last!"
[edit] Baseball honors
He was selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951 with 87% of the vote. His number "4" was also retired by the Giants in 1949; it is posted on the facade of the upper deck in the left field corner of AT&T Park.
He was a 12-time All-Star, from 1934 to 1945. He was also named four times to the Major League All-Star Teams of The Sporting News, in 1934-36 and in 1938. He is one of only six NL players to spend a 20+ year career with one team, Cap Anson, Stan Musial, Willie Stargell, Tony Gwynn and Craig Biggio are the others. In 1999, he ranked number 42 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
[edit] Broadcasting career
After his playing career was over, Ott broadcast baseball on the Mutual Broadcasting System radio network in 1955. From 1956 to 1958, Ott teamed with Van Patrick to broadcast the games of the Detroit Tigers on radio and television.
[edit] Death and legacy
Ott died in an auto accident in New Orleans at the age of 49; he was interred in Metairie Cemetery. Ott died in a similar manner to 2 other N.Y. Giant Hall of Famers: Frankie Frisch in 1973 and Carl Hubbell in 1988. Ott is remembered in his hometown of Gretna, where a park is named in his honor. In the 1989 film, Field of Dreams, Ott was one of several deceased players portrayed in farmer Ray Kinsella's Iowa cornfield. In 2006, Ott was featured on a U.S. postage stamp, as one of a block of four honoring "Baseball Sluggers" — the others being Mickey Mantle, Hank Greenberg, and Roy Campanella. In announcing the stamps, the U.S. Postal Service stated, "Remembered as powerful hitters who wowed fans with awesome and often record-breaking home runs, these four men were also versatile players who helped to lead their teams to victory and set impressive standards for subsequent generations".[1] Ott is also remembered in the name of the Little League of Amherst, New York. The Mel Ott Little League began in 1959, named for the recently deceased superstar.
Ott is mentioned in the poem "Lineup for Yesterday" by Ogden Nash:
| Lineup for Yesterday | |
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| O is for Ott Of the restless right foot. When he leaned on the pellet, The pellet stayed put. |
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| — Ogden Nash, Sport magazine (January 1949)[2] | |
[edit] Baseball records and accomplishments
[edit] Home runs
- 6-time NL home run leader (1932, 1934, 1936-38, 1942)
- Was the youngest player to hit 100 home runs and the first NL player to reach 500 home runs
- Passed Rogers Hornsby to become the all-time NL home run leader in 1937 and held that title until Willie Mays passed him in 1966.
- Holds major league record by leading his team 18 consecutive years in home runs (1928-1945)
[edit] Walks
- Drew five walks in a game 3 times, and 6 walks in a doubleheader twice
- Holds MLB record (tie) by drawing a walk in 7 consecutive plate appearances (June 16 through 18, 1943)
- One of only five players to be intentionally walked with the bases loaded
- Led NL in walks 6 times (1929, 1931-33, 1937, 1942)
[edit] Other offense
- Twice scored six runs in a game (August 4, 1934 and April 30, 1944)
- Hit for the cycle (May 16, 1929)
- First NL player to post eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons (only Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa and Chipper Jones have joined him)
[edit] Defense
- Twice led NL outfielders in double plays (1929 and 1935)
[edit] Overall
- 12-time All-Star (1934-45) and four time The Sporting News All-Star (1934-36, 1938)
- In 1999, he ranked number 42 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was a nominee for the MLB All-Century Team.
- One of only five NL players to spend a 20+ year career with one team (Cap Anson, Stan Musial, Willie Stargell and Tony Gwynn are the others)
- Managed the New York Giants in seven seasons (1942-48)
[edit] See also
- List of baseball players who went directly to the major leagues
- List of Major League Baseball Home Run Records
- 500 home run club
- List of MLB individual streaks
- Top 500 home run hitters of all time
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- Hitting for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- Major league career managerial statistics from Baseball-Reference
- baseballhalloffame.org – Hall of Fame biography page
- 1933 World Series
| Preceded by Chuck Klein Wally Berger Dolph Camilli |
National League Home Run Champion 1934 (with Ripper Collins) 1936-1938 (1937 with Joe Medwick) 1942 |
Succeeded by Wally Berger Johnny Mize Bill Nicholson |
| Preceded by Chuck Klein |
National League RBI Champion 1934 |
Succeeded by Wally Berger |
| Preceded by Bill Terry |
New York Giants Manager 1942–1948 |
Succeeded by Leo Durocher |
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