Ski Oscar Melillo Essentials
Name Note: Name presented as Ski Melillo in some sources
Position: Second Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-8, 150lb (173cm, 68kg)
Born: August 4, 1899 in Chicago, IL
Died: November 14, 1963 in Chicago, IL
Buried: Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, Alsip, IL
Debut: April 18, 1926 (6,383rd in major league history)
vs. DET 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: September 18, 1937
vs. CLE 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Full Name: Oscar Donald Melillo
Nicknames: Spinach or Ski
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Teams Ski Melillo Played For
St. Louis Browns (1926-1935)
Boston Red Sox (1935-1937)
Teams Ski Melillo Managed
St. Louis Browns (1938)
Best Season: 1931
He avoided his usual mid-season slump and kept his average above .300 for the only time in his career, at .306. He was also starting to spray the ball into the gaps, as his doubles total continued to swell, to 34, with 11 triples, as well. Browns’ manager Bill Killefer moved him from his customary seventh splot in the lineup, to second.
Assist to Melillo: The 1928 Batting Race
The Browns and Senators met on the final weekend of the 1928 season, in a series that had no bearing on the pennant race, but had everything to do with the American League batting race. Washington’s Goose Golsin and Heinie Manush of the Browns, were neck-and-neck for the batting crown. On the eve of the series, Manush asked St. Louis manager Dan Howley to play Oscar Melillo at second base.
“We’d been playing a kid named [Otis] Brannan… a fair hitter, but not much of a fielder, and I figured I’d like Oscar out there to play Goose back on the grass. I’ll say one thing, that Melillo made a coulpe of plays in the first two games that cut at least two hits off Goslin’s total.
Where He Played
He played more than 1,300 games at second, and only 34 at other defensive positions, mostly third base.
Nicknames
Spinach
Similar Players
Ted Sizemore, Bill Wambsganss, Freddy Parent
Related Players
Melillo’s competition for second base defensive laurels were CHarlie Gehringer and Buddy Myer.
Transactions
May 27, 1935: Traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Boston Red Sox for Moose Solters and cash.
The Browns felt that at his age (35), Melillo was expendable. They were right, since his best years were behind him. Ski handled second base for the BoSox for the rest of ’35 and most of 1936, but his bat was slowing down, and his range was shrinking.
June 14, 1938: Released by the St. Louis Browns.
Replaced
Marty McManus
Replaced By
The Browns wanted more offense at second, so they dealt Melillo to the Red Sox in May of 1935. Tom “Scoops” Carey took over at second. Carey could hit fairly well, but his range was below average.
Best Strength as a Player
Turning the double play. He was probably the best at making the pivot from the time he entered the big leagues in 1926, until 1933-1934.
Nine Players Who Debuted in 1926
Mel Ott
Paul Waner
Joe Cronin
Tony Lazzeri
General Crowder
Babe Herman
Ethan Allen
Bump Hadley
Ski Melillo
All-Time Teammate Team
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Notable Events and Chronology
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Biography
Teams Ski Melillo Played For
St. Louis Browns (1926-1935)
Boston Red Sox (1935-1937)
Teams Ski Melillo Managed
St. Louis Browns (1938)
Best Season: 1931
He avoided his usual mid-season slump and kept his average above .300 for the only time in his career, at .306. He was also starting to spray the ball into the gaps, as his doubles total continued to swell, to 34, with 11 triples, as well. Browns’ manager Bill Killefer moved him from his customary seventh splot in the lineup, to second.
Assist to Melillo: The 1928 Batting Race
The Browns and Senators met on the final weekend of the 1928 season, in a series that had no bearing on the pennant race, but had everything to do with the American League batting race. Washington’s Goose Golsin and Heinie Manush of the Browns, were neck-and-neck for the batting crown. On the eve of the series, Manush asked St. Louis manager Dan Howley to play Oscar Melillo at second base.
“We’d been playing a kid named [Otis] Brannan… a fair hitter, but not much of a fielder, and I figured I’d like Oscar out there to play Goose back on the grass. I’ll say one thing, that Melillo made a coulpe of plays in the first two games that cut at least two hits off Goslin’s total.
Where He Played
He played more than 1,300 games at second, and only 34 at other defensive positions, mostly third base.
Nicknames
Spinach
Similar Players
Ted Sizemore, Bill Wambsganss, Freddy Parent
Related Players
Melillo’s competition for second base defensive laurels were CHarlie Gehringer and Buddy Myer.
Transactions
May 27, 1935: Traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Boston Red Sox for Moose Solters and cash.
The Browns felt that at his age (35), Melillo was expendable. They were right, since his best years were behind him. Ski handled second base for the BoSox for the rest of ’35 and most of 1936, but his bat was slowing down, and his range was shrinking.
June 14, 1938: Released by the St. Louis Browns.
Replaced
Marty McManus
Replaced By
The Browns wanted more offense at second, so they dealt Melillo to the Red Sox in May of 1935. Tom “Scoops” Carey took over at second. Carey could hit fairly well, but his range was below average.
Best Strength as a Player
Turning the double play. He was probably the best at making the pivot from the time he entered the big leagues in 1926, until 1933-1934.
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