Mel McGaha

Fred Melvin McGaha ( ; September 26, 1926 – February 3, 2002) was an American coach and manager in Major League Baseball as well as a professional basketball player. Born in Bastrop, Louisiana, he stood tall and weighed . McGaha graduated from the University of Arkansas and played a season of professional basketball with the New York Knicks of the NBA.

Early life McGaha was born on September 26, 1926, in Bastrop, Louisiana. He was raised by Fred and Ethie McGaha in Mabelvale, Arkansas, where he attended Mabelvale High School, and played basketball and baseball. He attended the University of Arkansas, where he played baseball, basketball and football. In the 1944–45 season, his basketball team competed in the NCAA tournament, however, he had entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in early 1945, and was not discharged until November of that year. He was a reserve on the Razorbacks football team that went to the 1947 Cotton Bowl (January 1, 1947).

He was a football team captain the following season in 1947. The team won the 1948 Dixie Bowl (January 1, 1948) over William & Mary, Arkansas' first bowl win. McGaha returned an interception seventy yards for a touchdown in the 21–19 victory.

After graduating in 1948, McGaha had opportunities to play professional football with the Los Angeles Rams, baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, and basketball for the New York Knicks of the Basketball Association of American (BAA), a precursor to the National Basketball Association. He chose both baseball and basketball.

Professional basketball McGaha played 51 games for the New York Knicks of the BAA, for the 1948–49 season, under coach Joe Lapchick. He averaged 3.5 points, but his main role was as the team's "hatchetman". This was his only year playing professional basketball. He suffered a separated shoulder and injured collarbone in the ordeal.

Recovered by 1949, McGaha advanced to the Triple-A Columbus Red Birds. In 114 games, he hit .290 and scored 70 runs, but only had one home run. The following season, he was demoted to Double-A, and never played at the Triple-A level again, or in the major leagues.

He played for the Double-A Shreveport Sports of the Texas League from 1953–1957. After 11 minor league seasons, at age 31, he retired after playing 33 games for the Mobile Bears in the Cleveland Indians' organization in 1958.

Minor league manager After McGaha realized he was not going to make the major leagues as a player, he began preparing himself for a managing career. At only 27, he led the Double-A Texas League Sports to 90 victories and a regular-season pennant in his first season, though they lost in the playoffs. He then led the Sports to 87 wins and a playoff title the following year. He would hold the job with Shreveport for two more years, though not as successfully. After retiring as a player, he remained the Bears' manager in 1959, with the team record improving to 89–63, and winning the Southern Association championship. Cleveland promoted him in 1960 to manage the Triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League, he led the Leafs to a 100–54 record and the Governors' Cup playoff championship. McGaha was selected his league's Manager of the Year and The Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year.

Manager of Indians and Athletics In 1961, he was promoted to a coaching position with the parent Indians, then became their manager at age 35 in , succeeding Jimmie Dykes. He was particularly criticized for his handling of The Indians' pitching staff. the former New York Yankees' standout southpaw became a minor league consultant in the Athletics' organization. McGaha was brought back by Finley to manage his 1965 team, but after Kansas City dropped 21 of its first 26 games, McGaha was fired on May 15, 1965. His team was firmly locked in the league basement, 13 games out of the lead. He was replaced by Haywood Sullivan.

In part of three seasons as a major league manager, McGaha posted a 123–173 record (.416). Following his big-league managing career, he worked for the Houston Astros as pilot of the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers (1966–1967) and in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Personal life and death After retiring from major league baseball in 1970, he was a director of Parks and Recreation in Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana. He also became president of Shreveport’s Double-A minor league team; briefly worked as an executive for an El Paso minor league team; and scouted regionally for the Yankees. He was very involved in building a minor league baseball stadium in Shreveport in the 1980s.

McGaha moved to a retirement home in Grand Lake, Oklahoma, after suffering health issues. He died in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at age 75.

BAA career statistics Legend GP Games played FG% Field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage APG Assists per game PPG Points per game

Regular season Year Team GP FG% FT% APG PPG 1948–49 New York 51 .318 .591 1.0 3.5Career 51 .318 .591 1.0 3.5

Playoffs Year Team GP FG% FT% APG PPG 1949 New York 2 .000 .500 1.0 .5Career 2 .000 .500 1.0 .5