Mel McGaha

From BR Bullpen

Fred Melvin McGaha

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
School University of Arkansas

Born September 26, 1926 in Bastrop, LA USA
Died February 3, 2002 in Tulsa, OK USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Before becoming a baseball manager, Mel McGaha played basketball in the BAA, a predecessor of the NBA for the New York Knicks (1951). He attended the University of Arkansas on a basketball scholarship before being drafted by the Knicks in 1950.

In 1954, 27 year old Mel McGaha became manager of the Shreveport Sports in the Texas League. He would manage there 4 years, leading the team to the best record in the league in 1954, and winning the league title in 1955. In 1958, he moved to the Cleveland Indians organization with the Mobile Bears. The next year, the team won the Southern Association title. In 1960, McGaha moved up to the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning the International League title. 1961 found McGaha on the Indians coaching staff, and in 1962 he led the Indians to a 78-82 record. In 1963, McGaha became a coach for the Kansas City Athletics, and he took over the team from Ed Lopat in mid-1964, finishing 40-70. After a 5-21 start in 1965, he was replaced by Haywood Sullivan. In 1966 McGaha returned to the minors, guiding the Oklahoma City 89ers for two years, before moving to the parent Houston Astros coaching staff from 1968 to 1970. McGaha's major league teams went 123-173, while his minor league record shows 711-673.

Preceded by
Jimmie Dykes

Cleveland Indians Manager
1962

Succeeded by
Birdie Tebbetts

Preceded by
Ed Lopat

Kansas City A's Manager
1964-1965

Succeeded by
Haywood Sullivan

[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1954	Shreveport Sports	Texas League	90-71	1st	none	Lost in 1st round
1955	Shreveport Sports	Texas League	87-74	3rd	none	League Champs
1956	Shreveport Sports	Texas League	69-85	7th	none
1957	Shreveport Sports	Texas League	59-95	8th	none
1958	Mobile Bears	Southern Association	84-68	2nd	Cleveland Indians	Lost League Finals
1959	Mobile Bears	Southern Association	89-63	2nd	Cleveland Indians	League Champs
1960	Toronto Maple Leafs	International League	100-54	1st	Cleveland Indians	League Champs

1962	Cleveland Indians	American League	78-82	6th	Cleveland Indians

1964	Kansas City A's	American League	40-70	10th	Kansas City A's		replaced Ed Lopat
1965	Kansas City A's	American League	5-21	--	Kansas City A's		replaced by Haywood Sullivan
1966	Oklahoma City 89ers	Pacific Coast League	59-89	12th	Houston Astros
1967	Oklahoma City 89ers	Pacific Coast League	74-74	7th	Houston Astros