Bob Melvin
Encyclopedia
Robert Paul Melvin is the manager
of the Oakland Athletics
, and a former Major League Baseball
catcher
.
During a 10-year playing career, he played from 1985–94 for seven different teams. In his eight-year managing career, he has managed the Seattle Mariners
(2003–04), the Arizona Diamondbacks
(2005–09), and the Oakland Athletics
(2011–present).
, San Francisco Giants
, Baltimore Orioles
, Kansas City Royals
, Boston Red Sox
, New York Yankees
, and Chicago White Sox
. He finished his career with a batting average
of .233. and 35 home run
s. While a member of the Giants, he served as the backup for fellow catcher Bob Brenly
, who also went on to serve as manager of the Diamondbacks.
. His first year as a manager with the Mariners, the team won 93 games but failed to go to the playoffs. The Mariners decided not to extend his contract after the 2004 season when the team lost a total of 99 games. Melvin returned to the Diamondbacks, for whom he had previously been bench coach
before being hired by the Mariners. Melvin was actually the second man hired for the job; originally, the Diamondbacks hired Wally Backman
, who was fired without managing a single game due to revelations of past arrests and serious financial issues.
title in 2007, with a record of 90–72. The Diamondbacks entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the National League
. They swept the Chicago Cubs
in the NLDS
, but were then swept themselves in the NLCS
against the Colorado Rockies
. Melvin was named The Sporting News Manager of the Year
and MLB Manager of the Year
for the National League in 2007. His nickname, given to him by Mark Grace, is "The Mad Scientist", which was derived from his tendency to use various line-ups to a high (and somewhat surprising) degree of success.
for their managerial opening in October 2010. He was believed to be a finalist along with Bobby Valentine
, Joey Cora
, and Ron Roenicke. The position eventually went to Angels bench coach Roenicke. Melvin was interviewed by the New York Mets
for their managerial opening prior to the 2011 season. The position was eventually awarded to Terry Collins
.
. On September 21, 2011 he was named manager of the Oakland Athletics
and agreed upon a 3 year contract extension after guiding the team to a 62-68 record.
, with his wife, Kelley. He has one daughter, Alexi (December 21, 1988). Melvin and his family are very active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
—his daughter has been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Melvin is Jewish.
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...
of the Oakland 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....
, and a former 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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
During a 10-year playing career, he played from 1985–94 for seven different teams. In his eight-year managing career, he has managed the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(2003–04), the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
(2005–09), and the Oakland 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....
(2011–present).
Player
Melvin played ten seasons, mostly as a backup, for the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore 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...
, Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, 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"...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. He finished his career with a 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 :...
of .233. and 35 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. While a member of the Giants, he served as the backup for fellow catcher Bob Brenly
Bob Brenly
Robert Earl Brenly is an American former professional baseball player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. He played the majority of his career as a catcher with the San Francisco Giants and played half a season for the Toronto Blue Jays...
, who also went on to serve as manager of the Diamondbacks.
Seattle Mariners
During the 2003 and 2004 seasons he was the manager of the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. His first year as a manager with the Mariners, the team won 93 games but failed to go to the playoffs. The Mariners decided not to extend his contract after the 2004 season when the team lost a total of 99 games. Melvin returned to the Diamondbacks, for whom he had previously been bench 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...
before being hired by the Mariners. Melvin was actually the second man hired for the job; originally, the Diamondbacks hired Wally Backman
Wally Backman
Walter Wayne Backman is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He is best known for his time with the New York Mets from - and was a member of their 1986 World Series-winning team...
, who was fired without managing a single game due to revelations of past arrests and serious financial issues.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Melvin led Arizona to a National League WestNational League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
title in 2007, with a record of 90–72. The Diamondbacks entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. They swept the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the NLDS
2007 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies:-Game 1, October 3:Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaEighteen-game winners Carlos Zambrano and Brandon Webb matched each other pitch for pitch in the opening game of the series. Stephen Drew's fourth-inning home run stood as the game's only run until Ryan...
, but were then swept themselves in the NLCS
2007 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Thursday, October 11, 2007 at Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaThe Rockies took a 1–0 series lead behind a strong innings from starter Jeff Francis. Arizona scored first on a first-inning RBI double by Eric Byrnes, but lost the lead two innings later when Colorado right fielder Brad Hawpe...
against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. Melvin was named The Sporting News Manager of the Year
The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award
The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award was established in 1936 by The Sporting News and was given annually to one manager in Major League Baseball...
and MLB Manager of the Year
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League and the National League . The winner is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America . Each places a vote for first, second, and third...
for the National League in 2007. His nickname, given to him by Mark Grace, is "The Mad Scientist", which was derived from his tendency to use various line-ups to a high (and somewhat surprising) degree of success.
Firing and job interviews
Melvin was replaced as manager by A.J. Hinch following the May 8, 2009 game. Melvin was interviewed by the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for their managerial opening in October 2010. He was believed to be a finalist along with Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
, Joey Cora
Joey Cora
Jose Manuel Cora Amaro was a baseball player known as "The Rooster" with an 11 year career in the MLB spanning the years 1987 and 1989-1998. He played for the San Diego Padres of the National League and the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians of the American League...
, and Ron Roenicke. The position eventually went to Angels bench coach Roenicke. Melvin was interviewed by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for their managerial opening prior to the 2011 season. The position was eventually awarded to Terry Collins
Terry Collins
Terry Lee Collins is the manager for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. A former minor league shortstop, Collins managed the Albuquerque Dukes of the Pacific Coast League, the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, the Duluth Huskies of the summer collegiate Northwoods League, and...
.
Oakland Athletics
On June 9, 2011 he was named interim manager of the Oakland AthleticsOakland 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....
. On September 21, 2011 he was named manager of the Oakland 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....
and agreed upon a 3 year contract extension after guiding the team to a 62-68 record.
Personal life
Melvin resides in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, with his wife, Kelley. He has one daughter, Alexi (December 21, 1988). Melvin and his family are very active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes research. Driven by volunteers connected to children, adolescents, and adults with this disease, JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of T1D research...
—his daughter has been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Melvin is Jewish.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball managers in 2006
- List of Major League Baseball managers in 2007
- List of Major League Baseball managers in 2008