Return to letter index Previous Player:  Adam Melhuse      Next Player:  Joe Mellana    Ski Melillo () Full name: Oscar Donald Melillo Known as: Spinach Born: August 4, 1899 in Chicago, IL Height: 5' 8'' Weight: 150 lb. Ski Melillo played in the major leagues for 12 years. His lifetime batting average was .250. Comments on Ski Melillo Posted by Bill Ivimey   Actually. Melillo said that as joke. He ate all vegetables, not just spinach, to fight the disease. Melillo also had a fear of bugs and reptiles and other players used to put rubber snakes, spiders etc. in his glove. Posted by David D.   Ski Melillo's nickname was "Spinach", because he ate nothing but spinach everyday. The doctors prescribed spinach, because Ski had Bright's disease, which causes a kidney inflammation that can be fatal. So Milillo ate spinach everyday, all day, until he was cured. :) Add a new comment