This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
Hall of Famer Mel Ott was the New York Giants' answer to Babe Ruth, who played just across the Harlem River from the Giants' home at the Polo Grounds. With his trademark foot-in-the-bucket, high-kick batting style, the 5-9, 170-.pound Ott parked balls over the short fence only 257 feet away, leading or co-leading the NL in home runs six times. Over 22 seasons, from 1926-47, he clubbed 511 homers, hitting .304 and notching 1,860 RBIs. The mild-mannered Ott was a fan favorite, he was also the target of much bench-jockeying. It was Ott about whom Leo Durocher coined his famous barb, "Nice guys finish last," during the time when Ott was the Giants' luckless player-manager from 1942-48. This road flannel uniform was worn by Ott during the 1946 season when he managed the club to an eighth-place finish. In the neck of the jersey is the "Gold Smith" label and adjacent is the size tag "42." On the left front tail is the name "Mel Ott" in red chain stitch. Across the front of the jersey is the name "New York" and on the back is the payer number "4." Both the name and the number are made of blue on red felt. Included with the uniform are pants and socks. In the waistband is "4 Mel Ott 44" in red chain stitch, denoting the player number and year, respectively. The size tag "38" is also in the waistband. The uniform shows game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind.