Beautiful Mel Ott Colorization by Don Stokes!

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 Beautiful Mel Ott Colorization!

Every time we think we’ve seen the best of Don Stokes, he always seems to “one-up” us with something even better. Well, he’s done it again. Check out his beautiful colorization of the great Hall-of-Famer Mel Ott and see if you agree with me. I’ll say it again: “This may be Don’s best yet.” 

…At least until we see his next piece of artistry! Of course, this gives me a chance to say a few words about “Master Melvin’s” great Hall-of-Fame career.

Mel Ott played 22 years in the major leagues (1926-1947,) all with the Giants. Over his career, he hit .304, with 2876 hits, 1859 runs, 488 doubles, 72 triples, 511 home runs (25^th all-time), 1860 RBIs (12^th all-time), .414 on-base percentage (26^th all-time), .533 slugging average, and 5041 total bases (20^th all-time). His 155 OPS+ places him among the game’s elite for his era (100 is major league average). Slight in stature for a power hitter, the 5’9” right fielder used an unorthodox batting style, lifting his right foot prior to impact, which helped him generate power.

Baseball Reference’s feature, “Similarity Scores” provides for us the context in which to view Mel Ott;s career. No surprise, his statistics rank him among such all-time greats as Frank Robinson, Ken Griffey, Jr., Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx, and Ted Williams.

Mel Ott Memorabilia on Amazon      Chicago Cubs World Series Collectibles

Mel Ott had many highlights over his career. A 12-time All-Star, he led the National League in home runs six times, and in RBI’s once. For 18 consecutive years (1928 to 1945), he led the Giants in home runs. No other player has ever led his team in more consecutive years in a Triple Crown category. Ott was both the youngest player to hit 100 home runs and the first National Leaguer to hit 500 home runs. He passed Rogers Hornsby as the all-time National League home run leader in 1937 and held that title until Willie Mays passed him in 1966. Ott was the first National League player to post eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons. He twice scored six runs in a game and was the youngest major leaguer to hit for the cycle, until Mike Trout in 2013. He is one of only six National League players to spend a 20+ year career with one team. Ott was a member of the 1933 World Series champion Giants, and made three post season appearances (1933, ’36, ’37), hitting .295 in 16 games with four home runs and 10 RBIs.

Because of his reputation as one of the game’s most feared sluggers, Ott was noted for receiving walks, leading the league six times and holds numerous records in this category. He drew five walks in a game three times; and set the National League record for most walks in a doubleheader with six. He tied a major league record by drawing a walk in seven consecutive plate appearances (June 16 through 18, 1943).

Of Ott’s 511 career home runs, 323 of them (63%) came at home. Because of this, his home run record historically has been downplayed, suggesting that a 257-foot foul line at the Polo Grounds resulted in higher numbers at home. Ott often responded that if it was so easy to hit home runs at the Polo Grounds, other hitters in the league would do it. This was also balanced by the Polo Grounds’ deepest power alleys in baseball.

Ott managed the Giants from 1942-48, posting a 464-530 (.467) record. He was succeeded by Leo Durocher midway through the 1948 season. The Giants’ best finish during his tenure was third. Durocher’s famous quip “Nice Guys Finish Last,” which Durocher claimed was taken out of context, was said to be a reference to Ott’s easy-going managerial manner.

After his playing career ended, Ott turned to broadcasting. He teamed up with Van Patrick on Mutual radio and television from 1955-58 doing Tiger games. Ott was involved in an auto accident in 1958^, and died one week later on November 21, 1958, aged 49. Ott’s death in a car accident was similar to two other New York Giants Hall of Famers: Frankie Frisch in 1973 and Carl Hubbell in 1988, who died 30 years to the day after Ott’s death.

In 1999, Ott ranked #42 on The Sporting News‘ list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was a nominee for the MLB All-Century Team. His #4 has been retired by the Giants. Mel Ott was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1951.

Gary Livacari

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Photo Credits: Colorization by Don Stokes; others from Google search

Information: Excerpts edited from the Mel Ott Wikipedia page.

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