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15 best right fielders in MLB history

By Benjamin Chase

NEW YORK, NY - 1953: Brooklyn Dodger catcher Roy Campanella poses for a photograph in 1953 in the Polo Grounds in New York City. (Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - 1953: Brooklyn Dodger catcher Roy Campanella poses for a photograph in 1953 in the Polo Grounds in New York City. (Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images) /
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Mel Ott, Giants
Mel Ott, Giants (Photo Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images) /

Best right fielders in MLB history No. 3: Mel Ott

Stats: .304/.414/.533, 511 HR, 89 SB, 1,708/896 BB/K, 11,348 PA, 107.8 bWAR

Generously listed at 5’9″ and 170 pounds, Mel Ott may be the smallest man who put incredible fear in the eyes of pitchers that faced him. He started young, as well, making his debut about a month and a half after his 17th birthday, making just 61 plate appearances. He put in 180 plate appearances as an 18-year-old, and then took over as a full-timer at 19, smacking 18 home runs and hitting .322 in 1928.

He immediately took the step from “good” hitter to the elite in the entire game that next season, hitting .328/.449/.635 with 42 home runs, leading the league in walks. Ott drove in an incredible 151 runs for the New York Giants that season and scored 138 runs that year. Ott’s 1929 season would be his high-water mark for home runs, runs, RBI, and OPS. The incredible part was that he finished 11th in the league in MVP voting that season.

It’s not that Ott was bad in the following season – he just never reached those numbers again. Just about the only hitting area Mel Ott never led in his 22-year career was winning a batting title or leading the league in hits. He often had lower hit totals due to his incredibly high walk numbers, well beyond a normal walk rate at that time.

Ott was incredibly elite in the National League at the time of his career with the Giants. He led the league in home runs six times, led the league in runs scored twice and RBI once. He led the league in walks six times as well.

Ott was not just a great hitter, however, as he had one of the best arms many had ever seen in right field, tallying multiple seasons of 20+ assists in the outfield, finishing his career with over 250 outfield assists.

In spite of leading the league in bWAR twice, Ott never won an MVP, though he did show up on 13 ballots, finishing in the top 5 three times. He made 12 All-Star games, which were started five years into his career, so he actually missed a number of his best seasons in attending All-Star games.

Ott was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1951 with 87.2% of the vote.

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