Oscar Melillo
Encyclopedia
Oscar Donald "Ski" Melillo (August 4, 1899 - November 14, 1963) was an American
second baseman
and coach
in Major League Baseball
. Listed at 5' 8", 150 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.
, spending nine and a half years with them before moving to the Boston Red Sox
(1935-1937). Basically a line-drive hitter, he enjoyed a good year in 1929 ending with a .296 batting average
in 141 games
, hitting for the cycle
on May 23. His most productive season came in 1931, when he hit .306 with five home run
s, 88 runs
, 189 hits
, 34 doubles
and 11 triples
, all career numbers, while adding 75 runs batted in
, a significant offensive contribution for a middle infielder of his era.
A fine defensive second baseman, in 1930 Melillo handled 971 chances
without committing an error
(17 fewer that Nap Lajoie
's 1908 major league record). In 1933, he hit .292 with a career-high 79 RBI and posted a .991 fielding average that stood for more than 10 years.
In a 12-season career, Melillo was a .260 hitter (1316-for-5063) with 22 home runs and 548 RBI in 1377 games, including 590 runs, 210 doubles, 64 triples, and 69 stolen base
s.
Following his playing retirement, Melillo had his only chance to manage
at major league level when he became a late-season replacement for Gabby Street
as manager of the Browns in 1938. Melillo finished with a 2-7 mark (.222). He later served as a coach for the Cleveland Indians
for several years under Oscar Vitt and Lou Boudreau
, including the 1948
team, which won the American League
pennant, and also coached under Boudreau with the Red Sox and Athletics
.
Melillo died of a heart attack in his home city of Chicago at the age of 64.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Listed at 5' 8", 150 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.
Career
A native of Chicago Illinois, Melillo reached the majors in 1926 with the St. Louis BrownsBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, spending nine and a half years with them before moving to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1935-1937). Basically a line-drive hitter, he enjoyed a good year in 1929 ending with a .296 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 141 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, hitting for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
on May 23. His most productive season came in 1931, when he hit .306 with five home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 88 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 189 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 34 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 11 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, all career numbers, while adding 75 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, a significant offensive contribution for a middle infielder of his era.
A fine defensive second baseman, in 1930 Melillo handled 971 chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
without committing an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
(17 fewer that Nap Lajoie
Nap Lajoie
Napoléon "Nap" Lajoie , also known as Larry Lajoie, was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island...
's 1908 major league record). In 1933, he hit .292 with a career-high 79 RBI and posted a .991 fielding average that stood for more than 10 years.
In a 12-season career, Melillo was a .260 hitter (1316-for-5063) with 22 home runs and 548 RBI in 1377 games, including 590 runs, 210 doubles, 64 triples, and 69 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s.
Following his playing retirement, Melillo had his only chance to manage
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
at major league level when he became a late-season replacement for Gabby Street
Gabby Street
Charles Evard “Gabby” Street , also nicknamed "The Old Sarge", was an American catcher, manager, coach and radio broadcaster in Major League Baseball during the first half of the 20th century. As a catcher, he participated in one of the most publicized baseball stunts of the century's first decade....
as manager of the Browns in 1938. Melillo finished with a 2-7 mark (.222). He later served as a coach for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for several years under Oscar Vitt and Lou Boudreau
Lou Boudreau
Louis "Lou" Boudreau was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970...
, including the 1948
1948 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...
team, which won the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant, and also coached under Boudreau with the Red Sox and Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Melillo died of a heart attack in his home city of Chicago at the age of 64.
Facts
- Nicknamed Ski and Spinach.
- Because his career and his life were threatened by Bright's diseaseBright's diseaseBright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
, an often fatal kidney inflammation, Melillo immediately followed a doctor's advice and began a prescribed diet of spinachSpinachSpinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant , which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions...
, and nothing but spinach, until cured.
- He also suffered from ZoophobiaZoophobiaZoophobia or animal phobia may have one of two closely related meanings: a generic term for the class of specific phobias to particular animals, or an irrational fear or even simply dislike of any non-human animals....
, a generic term form the class of specific phobiaSpecific phobiaA specific phobia is a generic term for any kind of anxiety disorder that amounts to an unreasonable or irrational fear related to exposure to specific objects or situations...
s to particular animals, including rabbits, birds and snakes. His animal phobia led to many pranks from both opposing players and teammates. It is chronicled in Elden AukerElden AukerElden le Roy Auker was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball noted for his submarine pitching style....
's book Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms (ISBN 1-892049-25-2, 2001).