#59 - Mel Ott

For such a small man (Only 5ft 7in), Mel Ott was deceptively powerful at the plate!  Ott\’s plate prowess resulted in his becoming a six-time NL home run leader (1932, 1934, 1936–38, and 1942.), and led the New York Giants in home runs and from 1928 to 1945 (18 years straight!). No other player has led his team in more consecutive years in a single Triple Crown category. In addition, he was both the youngest player to hit 100 home runs and the first National Leaguer to hit 500 home runs. He passed Rogers Hornsby to become the all-time NL home run leader in 1937 and held that title until Willie Mays passed him in 1966.

Since he was so feared at the plate, Ott had a habit of getting walked.  He led the NL in this category six times (1929, 1931–33, 1937 and 1942), drew five walks in a game three times, and set the NL record for most walks in a doubleheader with six, on October 5, 1929 and again on April 30, 1944. He tied an MLB record by drawing a walk in seven consecutive plate appearances (June 16 through 18, 1943).  He twice scored six runs in a game, on August 4, 1934 and on April 30, 1944.

Mel Ott is the youngest major leaguer to ever hit for the cycle, was the first NL player to post eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons, and only Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa, Chipper Jones, and Albert Pujols have since joined him.

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