Thursday, October 16, 2014

Mel Ott -- October 16, 2014


Inspired by the book Few and Chosen: Defining Giants Greatness Across the Eras by Giants great Bobby Thomson and Phil Pepe, I thought I would devote my nickname meme to Giants players for several months.

Mel Ott, "Master Melvin" was a slugging right fielder for the New York Giants.  He played for the Giants from 1926 to 1947.  He was the first National Leaguer to hit 500 home runs.  Many people said he took advantage of the short porch in right field in the Polo Grounds.  He managed the team from 1942 to 1948.  Sadly, he was the subject of Leo Durocher's famous statement which is remembered as "Nice guys finish last."  What Leo the Lip, then managing the Dodgers, said was “The nice guys are all over there, in seventh place.” 

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To quote Russ Hodges:  "The Giants win the pennant.  The Giants win the pennant.  The Giants win the pennant."   The Giants won the National League Division Series, beating the Cardinals 6-3 on a walk-off home run.  They will face the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. 

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