[Dollbaby Melissa]

Everyone on the 79 World Championship Pirates claimed that it was "Easier to score by running through a Brick Wall than running through Ed Ott"

Ott was a Judo Expert and many said that he "solidified" himself to protect Home Plate from would be opposition attempting to score from 3rd.

[Utter Chaos]

I don't know about that but I do know him and Ed Hug share the shortest full name in the history of the game.

[joey1305]

It's very hard to say any catcher of the 1970's was better than Bench at any aspect of catching...hitting, hitting for power, calling a game, throwing runners out, blocking the plate...Bench was the best.

[TxRngerFan]

Yes, I agree Ott was the best in that era, followed by Munson, and (Jim) Sundberg

[Gallagator]

I think that Johnny Bench was probably the best fielding catcher but the only Ott I've ever heard of is Mel.

[david w]

In the late 70's the best at blocking the plate were Johnny Bench and Carlton fisk because they could seal the plate and catch the ball without risking their entire body like Ott did. Plus they were each bigger than Ott so a bigger target and I do not remember many successful collisions of a runner into either Bench or Fisk.