Mel Ott

Melvin Thomas Ott, nicknamed "Master Melvin," was an American professional baseball right fielder who lived from March 2, 1909, to November 21, 1958. He played his entire Major League Baseball career with the New York Giants, from 1926 through 1947. Ott batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Though unusually slight in stature for a power hitter at 5 feet 9 inches and 170 pounds, he led the National League in home runs a then-record six times. He was an All-Star for eleven consecutive seasons and became the first National League player to surpass 500 career home runs.

Ott was born in Gretna, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, and was a second cousin of Stanley Joseph Ott, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Baton Rouge. Despite his average height, he established himself early as a gifted athlete, particularly in baseball. During high school he played on a semi-pro team three or four days a week, and he already showed considerable power at a young age, earning money for it. His team had a tradition of passing the hat whenever a player hit a home run that figured in a victory, meaning Ott was taking home money for playing.

He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951.