OTT, MEL[vin Thomas] (1907-1958)

When Leo Durocher quipped “nice guys finish last,” he was referring to Mel Ott, the popular New York Giants outfielder from 1926 to 1947 and their manager from 1942 to 1948. However, Ott was also one of the premier sluggers in the National League, at a time when the American League boasted Ruth, Gehrig, Greenberg, and Foxx. Known for his distinctive batting style of raising his front leg before swinging, Ott led the NL in home runs six times, and compiled a .304 lifetime average. He retired with 511 career homers, a league record at the time, and in 1951 was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Thorn, J., and Palmer, P., Total Baseball. Warner Books, 1989.