Bob Melvin, Manager, San Diego Padres

Date of Birth: 10/28/1961
Birthplace: Palo Alto, California
College: University of California at Berkeley

Bob Melvin, manager of the San Diego Padres, was awarded the 2012 American League Manager of the Year honors for his role in leading the Athletics to a surprising first place finish in the American League West division. Prior to taking on the job of manager of the Athletics, Melvin had served as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners.

Melvin started his MLB career as a player, but he was not successful with that venture. He spent 10 years in the major leagues primarily as a backup catcher for seven teams. He was with only two teams for more than a year (San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles). His batting average for those ten years was just .233.

After his playing career ended following the 1994 season, Melvin became a bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Almost 10 years later, in 2003, he started a new career as a major league manager. He managed the Seattle Mariners for two years with moderate success his first year (second place finish in the AL West division but no playoff spot) but his second year was a poor one, with the Mariners losing 99 games and winning just 63.

Although Melvin was not successful with the Mariners in 2004, the Arizona Diamondbacks hired him as their manager for the 2005 season. In four full seasons with the Diamondbacks, Melvin led the team to two second place finishes (2005, 2008) and one first place finish. In 2007, the Diamondbacks had a 90-72 record with a .556 win percentage and they won the NL West division title and the NL Division series but they lost the NL Championship series to the Colorado Rockies. However, Melvin was named NL Manager of the Year for leading the Diamondbacks to the playoffs.

After a poor showing in the early part of the 2009 season, Melvin was fired in May of 2009. Two years later, he was made interim manager of the Oakland Athletics. In September, 2011, after getting the Athletics to a third place spot in the AL West division, Melvin was named manager of the team. A year later, he led the Athletics to a first place finish, with a 94-68 record and a .580 win percentage. Although the team lost to the Detroit Tigers in the AL Division series, Melvin was named AL Manager of the Year in 2012. In 2013, he again led the Athletics to an American League West division championship with a 96-66 win-loss record.

In 2014, the Athletics, under Melvin's leadership, finished second in the AL West division. They won a Wild Card spot with an 88-74 record. They lost, however, the Wild Card game to the Kansas City Royals. The team and Melvin had a huge setback in 2015, finishing in fifth place in the AL West division with 68 wins to 94 losses. The team's record in 2016 was just as dismal. They again finished last in the AL West division with a 69-93 record. They improved in 2017 to a 75-87 record. However, they still remained in last place in the AL West division.

The Athletics and Melvin had a great year in 2018, finishing with 97 wins and 65 losses. They won an AL Wild Card and went on to play the New York Yankees in a game that they lost with a score of 7-2.

For his achievements with the team in 2018, Melvin won his third Manager of the Year award. It was his second award as manager of the Athletics.

Melvin again led the Athletics to a Wild Card spot in 2019. The team finished the regular season with 97 wins and 65 losses. They lost the Wild Card game to the Tampa Bay Rays with a score of 5-1.

Melvin and the Athletics finished in first place in the AL West division in 2020, with 36 wins and 2 losses. They defeated the Chicago White Sox in the AL Wild Card series two games to one, but then they lost the ALDS to the Houston Astros in four games.

The Athletics finished in third place in the AL West division in 2021. They had 86 wins and 76 losses. After the season ended, Melvin left the team and agreed to a three year managerial contract with the Padres on November 1, 2021.

In 18 years as a major league manager, Melvin has a record of 1,346 wins to 1,272 losses. He has led teams four times to first place finishes and four times to second place finishes in the AL West division.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Bob Melvin
Baseball Reference - Bob Melvin