Ski Melillo
Oscar Donald Melillo
(Spinach)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 150 lb.
- Debut April 18, 1926
- Final Game September 18, 1937
- Born August 4, 1899 in Chicago, IL USA
- Died November 14, 1963 in Chicago, IL USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Second baseman Ski Melillo played twelve years in the American League for the St. Louis Browns and Boston Red Sox. Not much of a hitter (although he led the league in singles once), he was a good fielder.
One site quotes Heinie Manush as saying that Otis Brannan, the regular second baseman for the Browns in 1928, was a fair hitter but not much of a fielder. Manush asked the manager to play Melillo at second instead of Brannan when Manush was contesting Goose Goslin for the batting championship. Manush figured Melillo would be better at cutting off potential hits by Goslin, and per Manush, Melillo did stop a couple of would-be hits.
He got the nickname "Spinach" because he was once seriously ill and the doctor prescribed a diet of spinach.
In 1931 he was eighth in the MVP voting in spite of the fact that his team lost over 90 games.
He and Kevin Melillo are the only major leaguers (through 2007) with the last name Melillo.
After his playing days, Melillo was a Browns coach in 1938 and briefly managed the club that year. He was a member of the Cleveland Indians staff in 1939 and for much of the 1940s, including their pennant-winning 1948 season. He later was a coach for the Boston Red Sox in 1952 and 1953 and the Kansas City Athletics in 1955 and 1956.
Notable Achievements[edit]
- AL Singles Leader (1931)
Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | St. Louis Browns | American League | 2-7 | 7th | St. Louis Browns | Replaced Gabby Street (53-90) on September 27 | |
| 1948 | Burlington (IA) Indians | Central Association | -- | Cleveland Indians | Replaced Paul O'Dea / Replaced by Bruno Haas | ||
| 1949 | Dayton Indians | Central League | 80-57 | 1st | Cleveland Indians | Lost in 1st round |
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