Bob Melvin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bob Melvin
Melvin in 2017
San Francisco Giants – No. 6
Catcher / Manager
Born: (1961-10-28) October 28, 1961 (age 63) Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
May 25, 1985, for the Detroit Tigers
Last appearance
August 6, 1994, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average	.233
Home runs	35
Runs batted in	212
Managerial record	1,597–1,507
Winning %	.514
Teams
As player Detroit Tigers (1985) San Francisco Giants (1986–1988) Baltimore Orioles (1989–1991) Kansas City Royals (1992) Boston Red Sox (1993) New York Yankees (1994) Chicago White Sox (1994) As manager Seattle Mariners (2003–2004) Arizona Diamondbacks (2005–2009) Oakland Athletics (2011–2021) San Diego Padres (2022–2023) San Francisco Giants (2024–present) As coach Milwaukee Brewers (1999) Detroit Tigers (2000) Arizona Diamondbacks (2001–2002)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2001) 3× Manager of the Year (2007, 2012, 2018)

Robert Paul "Bob" Melvin (born October 28, 1961) is an American professional baseball manager and former catcher. He is currently the manager for the San Francisco Giants in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bob Melvin is very well-known for winning the Manager of the Year award three times.

Melvin was first picked by the Detroit Tigers in the 1981 draft. He played as a catcher for 10 years, from 1985 to 1994. He played for teams like the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox.

After his playing career, Melvin became a manager. He has managed the Seattle Mariners (2003–04), Arizona Diamondbacks (2005–09), Oakland Athletics (2011–21), and San Diego Padres (2022–23). He won the National League Manager of the Year award in 2007. He also won the American League Manager of the Year award in 2012 and 2018. This made him one of only a few managers to win the award in both leagues and at least three times.

Before the 2020 MLB season, Melvin was the manager who had been with the same team (Oakland Athletics) the longest. By 2023, he had won 853 games with Oakland, which is the second-most in their team's history. Overall, he has won over 1,500 games as a manager. He has led his teams to the playoffs eight times and won four division titles.

About Bob Melvin

Bob Melvin was born in Palo Alto, California. He grew up in Menlo Park, California. His mother raised him after his parents separated. He was raised as a Christian but also celebrated Passover with his mother's family.

He is one of only seven managers in MLB history who are of Jewish background. His grandfather, R.B. "Bud" Levitas, was a ballboy for the Acme Packers (which later became the Green Bay Packers) in the 1920s.

Melvin lives in Berkeley, California, and in New York City. He is married to Kelley, whom he met in 1982. They have a daughter named Alexi, who was born in 1988. Alexi is an actress, writer, and filmmaker. The Melvin family helps the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This is because Alexi was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when she was 14.

High School and College Baseball

Melvin went to Laurel and Encinal elementary schools in Menlo Park. He played baseball (as a catcher), basketball (as a forward), and golf at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton. He graduated in 1979. In high school baseball, he hit for a .474 batting average and hit 11 home runs. In his senior year, he hit .529. He was the first student to be added to his school's Hall of Fame.

After high school, Melvin went to the University of California in Berkeley. He played catcher for the Golden Bears. In his first year, he helped his team finish third in the College World Series in 1980. He batted .269 with 12 RBIs that season.

After his first year at California, Melvin moved to Cañada College in Redwood City, California. He continued to play baseball there.

Playing in the Major Leagues

Melvin with the Nashville Sounds in 1985

The Detroit Tigers picked Bob Melvin in the first round of the 1981 draft. He started playing in the major leagues on May 25, 1985, when he was 23 years old. He played for 11 seasons, mostly as a back-up catcher. A back-up catcher is a player who fills in when the main catcher needs a break or is injured. He played for the Tigers, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox.

In 1987, he was very good at stopping base-stealers. He caught 42.9% of them, which was the second-best in the National League. In 1991, he made five double plays as a catcher. This was fifth-most in the American League, even though he only played in 79 games. Bob Melvin ended his playing career with a batting average of .233 and 35 home runs.

Coaching and Scouting

After his playing career, Melvin worked for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a scout in 1996 and an instructor in 1997. From 1999 to 2000, he was a bench coach for the Brewers and then the Tigers. A bench coach helps the manager with strategy during games.

From 2001 to 2002, he was the bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. During this time, the Diamondbacks won two division titles and the World Series in 2001.

Managing Baseball Teams

Seattle Mariners (2003–04)

Bob Melvin became the manager of the Seattle Mariners in 2003. In his first year, the Mariners won 93 games. This was one of the best records for a first-time manager in MLB history. However, the team did not make it to the playoffs.

In 2004, the Mariners did not do as well, losing 99 games. Because of this, Melvin's contract was not renewed. He finished his time with the Mariners with 156 wins and 168 losses.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2005–09)

Melvin became the manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005. He helped the team improve a lot, winning 26 more games than the previous year.

In 2007, Melvin led Arizona to win the National League West title. They won 90 games that season. The Diamondbacks went into the playoffs as the top team in the National League. They beat the Chicago Cubs in the first round. But then they lost to the Colorado Rockies in the next round.

For his great work in 2007, Melvin was named the National League Manager of the Year. People sometimes called him "The Mad Scientist" because of his smart approach to the game. On August 14, 2008, he became the manager with the most wins in Arizona Diamondbacks history.

He was later replaced as manager in May 2009. He finished his time with the Diamondbacks with 337 wins and 340 losses. After this, he worked as a scout for the New York Mets and as an advisor for the Diamondbacks.

Oakland Athletics (2011–21)

Melvin with the Oakland Athletics

On June 9, 2011, Melvin became the interim manager for the Oakland Athletics. Later, he was given a permanent contract. He became the 30th manager in the team's history.

In 2012, Melvin led the Athletics to win the American League West. They won 94 games. He was named the 2012 American League Manager of the Year. This made him one of only six managers to win the award in both the National and American Leagues.

The Athletics continued to play well under Melvin. In 2013, they won the American League West again. They won 96 games that season. They faced the Detroit Tigers in the playoffs again but lost.

In 2014, the Athletics had the best record in MLB at the All-Star break. They made it to the playoffs as a Wild Card team. They played a very close game against the Kansas City Royals but lost.

On July 29, 2017, Melvin won his 1,000th game as a manager. On October 29, 2018, he signed a new contract with the Athletics. On November 13, 2018, he won his third Manager of the Year award. He led the team to 97 wins, even though they had one of the lowest team payrolls.

On June 1, 2021, Melvin won his 798th game as Athletics manager. This made him the second-winningest manager in Athletics history, passing Tony La Russa. By the end of his time with the Athletics, his 853 wins were second only to Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack. He led the Athletics to the playoffs six times and won three division titles.

San Diego Padres (2021–23)

On November 1, 2021, Bob Melvin became the manager of the San Diego Padres. He signed a three-year contract.

In his first year with the Padres, Melvin led them to the playoffs. This was the team's first full season playoff appearance since 2006. In the playoffs, the Padres beat the New York Mets. Then, they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had won 111 games that season. However, they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the next round.

In 2023, Melvin led the Padres to an 82-80 record. His 1,517 regular season wins ranked 25th all-time among MLB managers. He is one of 15 managers to have made it to the playoffs eight times.

San Francisco Giants (2024–present)

On October 25, 2023, the San Francisco Giants announced that Bob Melvin would be their new manager. He is the 39th manager in the team's history and signed a three-year contract.

Managerial Record

See also

• List of Major League Baseball managers with most career ejections
• List of Major League Baseball managers with most career wins