Ski Melillo
On of the best defensive second basemen in baseball in the 1920s and early 1930s, Oscar "Ski" Melillo never hit much, but made a name for himself with his glove. In his rookie campaign, in 1926, Melillo played in fewer than 100 games and batted just .255 with virtually no power, but he still received six MPV votes because of his amazing defensive play at the pivot. He led AL second basemen in putouts three times, and assists and double plays four times each. He only hit 22 homers in his 12-year career, but he eventually developed doubles-power, and even drove in as many as 79 runs in a season. In 1933, he committed just seven errors and posted a record .991 fielding percentage, a mark that stood for ten years. He managed the Browns briefly at the end of the 1938 season after Gabby Street was fired, and later served as a coach for several years with the Cleveland Indians.
Played For
St. Louis Browns (1926-1935)
Boston Red Sox (1935-1937)
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.
Born
Oscar Donald Melillo was born on August 4, 1899, in Chicago, IL.
Died
November 14, 1963, Chicago, IL
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 2B
Primary Team: SLA
Major League Debut
April 18, 1926
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1926
Mel Ott
Paul Waner
Joe Cronin
Tony Lazzeri
General Crwoder
Babe Herman
Ethan Allen
Bump Hadley
Ski Melillo
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.
Batting Feats
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.
Learn More about Ski Melillo
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Sources used for the Ski Melillo Player Page:
When Goslin Edged Me Out for the Batting Title, by Heinie Manush, as told to John P. Carmichael, 1946 Baseball Digest
