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Bob Melvin
Catcher / Manager
Born: October 28, 1961 (1961-10-28) (age 48) Palo Alto, California
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 25, 1985 for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
August 6, 1994 for the Chicago White Sox
Career statistics
Batting average	.233
Home runs	35
Runs batted in	212
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)
Career highlights and awards
2007 NL Manager of the Year

Robert Paul Melvin (born October 28, 1961, in Palo Alto, California) is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. He most recently served as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, from 2005 until his firing on May 7, 2009.

Baseball career

Player

Melvin played ten seasons, mostly as a backup, for the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox. He finished his career with a batting average of .233. and 35 home runs. While a member of the Giants, he served as the backup for fellow catcher Bob Brenly, who also went on to serve as manager of the Diamondbacks.

Manager

During the 2003 and 2004 seasons he was the manager of the Seattle Mariners. His first year as a manager with the Mariners, the team won 93 games but failed to go to the playoffs. The Mariners decided not to extend his contract after the 2004 season when the team lost a total of 99 games. Melvin returned to the Diamondbacks, for whom he had previously been bench coach before being hired by the Mariners. Melvin was actually the second man hired for the job; originally, the Diamondbacks hired Wally Backman, who was fired without managing a single game due to revelations of past arrests and serious financial issues.^[1]

Melvin led Arizona to a National League West title in 2007, with a record of 90–72. The Diamondbacks entered the playoffs as the #1 seed in the National League. They swept the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS, but were then swept themselves in the NLCS against the Colorado Rockies. Melvin was named The Sporting News Manager of the Year and MLB Manager of the Year for the National League in 2007. His nickname, given to him by Mark Grace, is "The Mad Scientist", which was derived from his tendency to use various different line-ups to a high (and somewhat surprising) degree of success.

Melvin was replaced as manager by AJ Hinch following the May 8, 2009, game.^[2]

Personal life

Melvin resides in Cave Creek, Arizona, with his wife, Kelley. He has one daughter, Alexi, who is an actress, studying in New York City. During the off season, Melvin and his wife frequently stay at their apartment in New York, with their daughter. Melvin and his family are also very active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation—his daughter suffers from juvenile diabetes.

Managerial records

See also

• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2006
• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2007
• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2008

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Major league career managerial statistics from Baseball-Reference