Mel McGaha
Encyclopedia
Fred Melvin McGaha pronounced "mc-gay-hay", was an American
coach
and manager
in Major League Baseball
as well as a professional basketball player. He was born in Bastrop, Louisiana
.
McGaha graduated from the University of Arkansas
and played a season of professional basketball
with the New York Knicks
of the NBA. He signed his first baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals
in 1948. An outfielder
who batted and threw right-handed, McGaha never played in the major leagues. But he achieved success as a minor league
manager, especially in 1960 when he led the Triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs to 100 victories and the International League
pennant. The following year he was promoted to a coaching post with the parent Cleveland Indians
, and then became their manager at age 35 in 1962, succeeding Jimmie Dykes. McGaha was fired with two games remaining in his maiden season with Cleveland 78-82 and in sixth place.
In 1963, McGaha became a coach for the Kansas City Athletics
. In June 1964, with the Athletics in last place under manager Eddie Lopat
, owner Charlie Finley, known for his quick trigger finger in hiring and firing, abruptly shifted McGaha into the Kansas City front office; then, a few days later, moved him back onto the field as Lopat's successor. The A's revived somewhat, but still finished in last place. McGaha was fired by Finley in the 1965 season after a 5-21 start. He was replaced by Haywood Sullivan
.
In part of three seasons, McGaha posted a 123-173 record (.416). Following his major-league managing career, he worked for the Houston Astros
as a minor league manager (1966-67) and major league coach (1968-70).
In addition to his baseball managing, McGaha also spent two years as the head men's basketball coach at Arkansas A&M College (now the University of Arkansas at Monticello
), serving as the head coach in 1953-54 and 1954-55. He posted a 32-15 (.681) record during his two years as the Boll Weevils' head coach.
McGaha was a member of the 1948 Duluth Dukes
and was one of the survivors of a bus crash where four players and their manager were killed in a head on accident with a truck.
He died in Tulsa, Oklahoma
, at age 75.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
and manager
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...
in 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...
as well as a professional basketball player. He was born in Bastrop, Louisiana
Bastrop, Louisiana
Bastrop is a city in and the parish seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,988 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Bastrop, Louisiana Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Monroe-Bastrop, Louisiana Combined...
.
McGaha graduated from the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
and played a season of professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
with the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA. He signed his first baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in 1948. An outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who batted and threw right-handed, McGaha never played in the major leagues. But he achieved success as a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager, especially in 1960 when he led the Triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs to 100 victories and the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
pennant. The following year he was promoted to a coaching post with the parent Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and then became their manager at age 35 in 1962, succeeding Jimmie Dykes. McGaha was fired with two games remaining in his maiden season with Cleveland 78-82 and in sixth place.
In 1963, McGaha became a coach for the Kansas City 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....
. In June 1964, with the Athletics in last place under manager Eddie Lopat
Eddie Lopat
Edmund Walter ""The Junkman"" Lopat was a Major League Baseball pitcher.Lopat was born in New York, New York. His Major League debut was on April 30, 1944, playing for the Chicago White Sox....
, owner Charlie Finley, known for his quick trigger finger in hiring and firing, abruptly shifted McGaha into the Kansas City front office; then, a few days later, moved him back onto the field as Lopat's successor. The A's revived somewhat, but still finished in last place. McGaha was fired by Finley in the 1965 season after a 5-21 start. He was replaced by Haywood Sullivan
Haywood Sullivan
Haywood Cooper Sullivan was an American college and professional baseball player who was a catcher, manager, general manager and club owner in Major League Baseball...
.
In part of three seasons, McGaha posted a 123-173 record (.416). Following his major-league managing career, he worked for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
as a minor league manager (1966-67) and major league coach (1968-70).
In addition to his baseball managing, McGaha also spent two years as the head men's basketball coach at Arkansas A&M College (now the University of Arkansas at Monticello
University of Arkansas at Monticello
The University of Arkansas at Monticello is a public university and college for vocational and technical education located in Monticello, Arkansas, United States....
), serving as the head coach in 1953-54 and 1954-55. He posted a 32-15 (.681) record during his two years as the Boll Weevils' head coach.
McGaha was a member of the 1948 Duluth Dukes
Duluth Dukes
The Duluth Dukes was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise that represented Duluth, Minnesota, in the Northern League in 1916, 1934–1942, and from 1946–1955. In addition, a separate edition of the Dukes was one of four franchises in the short-lived Twin Ports League, a "Class E"...
and was one of the survivors of a bus crash where four players and their manager were killed in a head on accident with a truck.
He died in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, at age 75.
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com - career managing record
- NBA statistics @ basketballreference.com
- Historic Baseball