Мелвин Отт: Бейсболдың шебері

American baseball player and manager

Melvin Thomas Ott (March 2, 1909 – November 21, 1958), nicknamed "Master Melvin", was an American professional baseball right fielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Giants, from through
He batted left handed and threw right handed. Though unusually slight in stature for a power hitter, at 5 feet (2 m), , Ott led the National League in home runs a then record six times. He was an All Star for 11 consecutive seasons, and was the first National League player to surpass 500 career home runs. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951.

Ott was born in Gretna, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. Despite his average height, he quickly established himself as a gifted athlete, especially in baseball. During high school, he played on a semi pro team three or four days a week. He already showed considerable power at a young age and was getting paid 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 baseball as early as 14.

Despite his power, Ott's hometown minor league team, the New Orleans Pelicans, refused to sign him because of concerns about his size. He then found a job at a lumber company in Patterson, near Morgan City, where he became a sensation on the company baseball team. Company owner Henry Williams was particularly impressed with Ott. While visiting New York, he suggested that Giants manager John McGraw give him a tryout. Ott was skeptical at first, so Williams bought Ott a train ticket to New York This style helped him hit for power. More recent players who used a similar style include Harold Baines and Kirby Puckett, as well as the Japanese home run king, Sadaharu Oh. In 1943, all of his 18 home runs came at home; only two other players ever had a greater number of all homefield home runs. Of Ott's 511 career home runs, 323 of them, or 63%, came at home. Because of this, his home run record historically has been downplayed, suggesting that a 257 feet (78 m) foul line at the Polo Grounds resulted in higher numbers at home. Sportswriters often jokingly referred to him as the master of the "Chinese home run" as such short homers were called at the time; Ott would often respond by noting that if it was so easy to inflate his homer totals by hitting over that fence, all other hitters in the league would be doing it. As a balance, the Polo Grounds had the deepest power alleys in baseball. Also, he hit more career home runs in foreign stadiums than any other National League hitter at the time of his retirement. In some of his better seasons, he hit more homers on the road than in the Polo Grounds. There may be reason to believe that he was a better hitter than his record suggests because of differences in National League and American League ball specifications. Those differences are considered the greatest in the history of the game and made it considerably harder for National League hitters to achieve home runs. Ott was also a skilled fielder. He was a master at playing balls that bounced off the fences at the Polo Grounds, allowing him to garner 26 assists in 1929, his first full season as a full time player. He would never even approach that figure again, as baserunners quickly realized it was far too risky to run on balls hit in Ott's direction. At the time of his retirement, he had hit 200 more home runs than the next highest National Leaguer.

After longtime teammate Bill Terry retired as manager in 1941, he named Ott as player manager. Ott continued as a regular player for another five years, and remained productive at the plate for much of that time. In 1942, he led the league in home runs, runs scored, and walks. He finished second in home runs and third in slugging percentage in 1944. In 1945, he hit .308 and finished tied for fourth in home runs. Ott spent the remaining two and a half years of his contract helping his former teammate Carl Hubbell run the Giants' farm system. In 1951, Ott succeeded Chuck Dressen as manager of the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League, leading the club to an 80–88 record and seventh place finish. In 1952, the Oaks finished 104 76 under Ott, good for second place in the PCL.

Ott was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951 with 87.2% of the vote. His number "4" was also retired by the Giants in , and it is posted on the facade of the upper deck in the left field corner of Oracle Park. He was a National League All Star for 12 consecutive seasons, from 1934 through 1945 (All Star selections only began in 1933; Ott had at least three All Star caliber seasons prior to that, as well as in 1945, when MLB cancelled the 1945 contest and selections). He is one of only six National League players to spend a 20+ year career with one team (Cap Anson, Stan Musial, Willie Stargell, Tony Gwynn, and Craig Biggio being the others). He was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All Century Team. In 1999, The Sporting News placed Ott at number 42 on its list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players". In 2020, The Athletic ranked Ott at number 32 on its "Baseball 100" list, complied by sportswriter Joe Posnanski.

Ott spent the 1953 and 1954 seasons out of baseball for the first time since coming to New York in 1925. In 1955, he joined the Mutual radio network to recreate baseball games. From 1956 to 1958, Ott teamed with Van Patrick to broadcast the games of the Detroit Tigers on radio and television.

Ott was injured in an auto accident in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, in November 1958. He was transferred to a hospital in New Orleans, where he died a week later at the age of 49. He was interred in Metairie Cemetery. Ott died in a similar manner to two other New York Giants Hall of Famers: Frankie Frisch in 1973 and Carl Hubbell in 1988.

Six time NL home run leader (1932, 1934, 1936–1938, 1942). Was the youngest player to hit 100 and 200 home runs, and the first NL player to reach 500 home runs. Passed Rogers Hornsby (301) to become the all time NL home run leader in and held that title (at 511) until Willie Mays passed him in Holds major league record by leading his team 18 consecutive years in home runs (1928–1945).

Drew five walks in a game three times, and six walks in a doubleheader twice. Shares MLB record by drawing a walk in seven consecutive plate appearances (June 16 through 18, 1943). Led NL in walks six times (1929, 1931–1933, 1937, 1942).

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, Chipper Jones, and Albert Pujols have joined him).

Twice led NL outfielders in double plays (1929 and 1935).

12 time All Star (1934–1945) and four time The Sporting News All Star (1934–1936, 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 six NL players to play more than 20 years with one team (Cap Anson, Stan Musial, Willie Stargell, Craig Biggio, and Tony Gwynn are the others). He managed the New York Giants in seven seasons (1942–1948).