Mel McGaha
Fred Melvin McGaha
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
- School University of Arkansas
- High School Mabelvale High School
- Born September 26, 1926 in Bastrop, LA USA
- Died February 3, 2002 in Tulsa, OK USA
Biographical Information[edit]
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 |
Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]
He also managed the 1966 and 1969 Florida Instructional League teams for the Houston Astros.
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