HE WAS

He was a Major Leaguer at 19.
He was five feet, nine inches tall.
He was not sinewy at all.
He used timing and rhythm to hit
For power rather than sheer muscles.
He used an exaggerated high leg kick
To create torque and smash pitches
Over the fence, especially at the
Polo Grounds, his home stadium.
He was in a New York Giants uniform
As player and manager for 22 years.
He was the first hitter in the National
League to smash 500 homers.
He led the Senior Circuit in homers
Six seasons and had his Number 4
Retired in 1949.
He was quiet, soft-spoken, placid, a
Man who did not curse or spit — but
He was tougher than a railroad spike.
He became a Hall of Famer in 1951.
In 9,456 at-bats, his career batting average
Was .304; he had 151 RBI’s in 1929 (a
Better year than Wall Street had).
He played in 12 All-Star games.
The only other Giants players to hit
500 or more home runs are Willie
Mays and Barry Bonds.
He was soft-spoken; his bat did his
Dramatic speaking for him.
He was a Giant in more ways than one.
He was Mel Ott.