Bob Melvin Becomes Winningest Manager In Oakland Era
Jun 2, 2021, 9:30 AM | Updated: 9:30 am
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
Melvin passed Tony La Russa on Tuesday night after notching his 799th win as the A’s skipper
In his 11th season as the manager of the Oakland Athletics, Bob Melvin stands alone.
Melvin passed Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa on Tuesday night for the most managerial wins in the Oakland-era (1968-present) after the A’s defeated the Seattle Mariners by a final of 12-6.
The win was Melvin’s 799th victory in an Athletics uniform, placing him first all-time in the Oakland-era and second all-time in franchise history behind only Connie Mack (3,582 wins from 1901-1950).
After taking over the role of manager in 2011 after the franchise moved on from then-manager Bob Geren, Melvin has helped build the Athletics into a perennial playoff team in his 11 seasons.
In those 11 years, the Athletics have made the postseason six times and won 52-percent of their regular season games.
“You know, it’s just another game,” Melvin said after win number 799 on Tuesday night. “It just means I’ve been around for a while, and I’ve been lucky to be around for a while. It’s about the players. The players win games for you. These guys are the guys that win games. I’ve just been lucky enough to be around for them.”
Melvin has been named American League Manager of the Year two times during his time with Oakland:
- In 2012 after leading the A’s to their first American League West Division championship in six years–in his first full season as manager, nonetheless.
- 2018 when Oakland improved from 75 wins to 97, snapping a three-season playoff drought.
The A’s hold a club option for Melvin in 2022, but the 59-year-old has made it clear that there is nowhere else that he would rather be than Oakland.
“I have no desire to go anywhere else,” Melvin said in April. “I’m perfectly happy here and my bosses have taken good care of me here. That’s where I stand on it. It’s not my job to pick up an option, it’s the guys above me. But I’m really happy here.”
