Mel Ott (March 2, 1909 - November 21, 1958), nicknamed "Master Melvin", was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career in the National League for the New York Giants (1926-1947). Ott was born in Gretna, Louisiana. He batted left handed and threw right handed. In a 22-season career, Ott batted .304 with 511 home runs, 1860 RBI, 1859 runs, 2876 hits, 488 doubles, 72 triples, 89 stolen bases, a .414 on base percentage and a .533 slugging average.
Mel Ott was selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His number "4" was also retired by the Giants; it is posted on the facade of the upper deck in the left field corner of AT&T Park.
He died in New Orleans, Louisiana at age of 49 in an auto accident and was interred there in the Metairie Cemetery.
In 2006, Ott will be featured on a United States postage stamp . The stamp is one of a block of four honoring Baseball Sluggers.
