suffered from Bright's disease. Melillo's doctor prescribed him a diet of spinach as a result. He also suffered from zoophobia, a generic term for the class of specific phobias to particular animals, including rabbits, birds and snakes. His animal phobia led to many pranks from both opposing players and teammates. Melillo died of a heart attack in his home city of Chicago at the age of 64. See also List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle References External links , or Retrosheet 1899 births 1963 deaths Baseball players from Chicago Boston Red Sox coaches Boston Red Sox players Cleveland Indians coaches Cleveland Indians scouts Kansas City Athletics coaches Major League Baseball second basemen Major League Baseball third base coaches Milwaukee Brewers (minor league) players St. Louis Browns coaches St. Louis Browns players St. Louis Browns managers Sportspeople from Chicago Winnipeg Maroons (baseball) players