Mel Ott was a longtime right fielder for the New York Giants who played a total of 22 seasons in the major leagues (1926 to ’47). A perennial All-Star from about the time of the game’s inception in 1933, Ott was selected to the National League’s squad 11 times between 1934 and 1945. A six-time N.L. home run champ, Ott finished his career with 511 round-trippers to his credit and was only the third played--and first National League slugger--to crack the magical 500 home run plateau behind just Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx. A career .304 hitter, Ott was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. In fact, since 1959, just a year after Ott’s untimely death in an auto accident at the age of 49, the National League has honored its annual home run champion with the Mel Ott Award.
During the latter part of his career, starting in 1942, Ott became a player/manager for the Giants and this lot features his New York Giants game worn road uniform (including stirrups) from his final season as the team’s skipper. It was the only season in which he did not play in the field and the Giants finished 78-76, good enough for fifth place in the National League.
The offered gray road flannel jersey features "New York" across the front and uniform number "4" on the reverse. All letters and numerals are appliquéd in black on orange felt. A "MacGregor/Goldsmith SIZE 42" label appears in the inside rear collar. The numerals "1” and “4" (denoting the set number and year) are chain-stitched in orange upon a small white strip tag located on the interior left front tail. A second small white strip tag reading “Ott 4” is chain-stitched in orange just below the manufacturer’s tag on the inside rear collar. This type of jersey is quite significant because it represents a rare one-year style that was only used by the Giants for the 1948 season. The design features which distinguish it as such are the button front in combination with the black-and-orange piping that runs down either side of the button panel. One of the original seven gray buttons is missing from the panel. The jersey shows solid use with some fraying of the numbers and letters evident as well as some slight soiling on the front.
The accompanying gray flannel pants also show solid wear, some soiling and include the Giants’ black-and-orange piping running down either leg. A "MacGregor/Goldsmith SIZE 38" label appears in the inside front waistband accompanied by a pair of small white strip tags chain-stitched in orange reading “1” and “48” on one and “Ott 4” on the other. All five original white buttons down the fly remain intact and eight air holes are present around the crotch area. Lastly, a pair of black cotton stirrups measuring 22 inches long round out this uniform lot. Three rings of orange near the bottom complete each stirrup in true early Giants team colors. With a near perfect A9.5 grade from MEARS, this exquisite final season uniform set comes directly from Mel Ott's family.
Includes Ott family letter of provenance from his great-granddaughter. Letter from MEARS (A9.5).