Mel Ott

From BR Bullpen

1933 Goudey

Melvin Thomas Ott
(Master Melvin)

  • Bats Left, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 9", Weight 170 lb.

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1951

BR page

Biographical Information[edit]

1929 Kashin Pub.

"I never knew a baseball player who was so universally loved. Why, even when he was playing against (us) he would be cheered and there are no more rabid fans than in Brooklyn." - Leo Durocher, about Mel Ott

Mel Ott, was a Hall of Fame right fielder who played 22 years in the big leagues, all with the New York Giants. Known as "Master Melvin", the diminutive 5' 9", 170 lb. star entered the majors at 17 years-old, and retired with 511 home runs, only the third player to reach the once lofty 500 Home Runs plateau. The nearest National Leagueer to him at the time was Rogers Hornsby, with just 301. In all he led the NL six times in home runs and five times in Adjusted OPS, retiring with a .304 career batting average.

Ott held the NL career home run record from 1937 until passed by New York and San Francisco Giant great Willie Mays in 1966.

Ott's first two managers with the New York Giants were John McGraw and Rogers Hornsby, both great hitters when they were players.

The most similar player is Frank Robinson.

Ott was not a very successful manager. He was the manager about whom Leo Durocher said "Nice guys finish last".

He was a broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers from 1956 to 1958. Quote: "I could watch the fans yelling and laughing and I'd think, 'What an ungrateful fellow a ballplayer would be who just didn't give everything he had every moment of every inning in every game.'" Mel Ott.

Ott was born in the New Orleans, LA area and also died there in an off-season car accident.

Records[edit]

Ott holds the record for the most games played before his 30th birthday, with 1,739. Second is Robin Yount with 1,671 and third is Andruw Jones with 1,625.

Ott remains the youngest player in major league history to hit 100 Home Runs (22 years, 132 days) as well as 200 Home Runs (25 years, 144 days). He is also the youngest player in MLB history to reach 1,000 RBI (27 years, 94 days).

He is the youngest player in National League history to reach 1,000 Hits (24 years, 154 days). He is the youngest player in major league history to hit for the cycle, at 20 in 1929.

He was the first player in National League history to hit 300, 400 & 500 Home Runs. He holds the record for the most home runs in one ballpark, with 323 HR at the Polo Grounds. He also holds the record for career home runs in one city, with 348 in New York. Second is Babe Ruth who hit 344 in New York, including 259 at Yankee Stadium; no-one else had even 300 in the same city, until Barry Bonds hit exactly 300 in San Francisco.

Ott currently ranks # 11 on the all-time list for the most RBI. When he retired, he ranked # 1 among National Leaguers in the 20th century and was only behind Cap Anson among all-time National Leaguers.

Notable Achievements[edit]

  • 12-time NL All-Star (1934-1945)
  • 4-time NL On-Base Percentage Leader (1930, 1932, 1938 & 1939)
  • NL Slugging Percentage Leader (1936)
  • 2-time NL OPS Leader (1936 & 1942)
  • 2-time NL Runs Scored Leader (1938 & 1942)
  • 6-time NL Home Runs Leader (1932, 1934, 1936-1938 & 1942)
  • NL RBI Leader (1934)
  • 6-time NL Bases on Balls Leader (1929, 1931-1933, 1939 & 1942)
  • 20-Home Run Seasons: 15 (1929-1939, 1941, 1942, 1944 & 1945)
  • 30-Home Run Seasons: 8 (1929, 1932, 1934-1938 & 1942)
  • 40-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1929)
  • 100 RBI Seasons: 9 (1929-1936 & 1938)
  • 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 9 (1929-1932, 1934-1936, 1938 & 1942)
  • Won a World Series with the New York Giants in 1933
  • Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1951

Records Held[edit]

Most home runs in one ballpark, 323 at Polo Grounds


Preceded by
Bill Terry
New York Giants Manager
1942-1948
Succeeded by
Leo Durocher

Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1942 New York Giants National League 85-67 3rd New York Giants
1943 New York Giants National League 55-98 8th New York Giants
1944 New York Giants National League 67-87 5th New York Giants
1945 New York Giants National League 78-74 5th New York Giants
1946 New York Giants National League 61-93 8th New York Giants
1947 New York Giants National League 81-73 4th New York Giants
1948 New York Giants National League 37-38 -- New York Giants Replaced by Leo Durocher on July 17
1951 Oakland Oaks Pacific Coast League 80-88 5th none
1952 Oakland Oaks Pacific Coast League 104-76 2nd none

Further Reading[edit]

  • David Adler: "The Hall of Famer who broke into the bigs at 17", mlb.com, April 27, 2023. [1]

Related Sites[edit]