Product Code Database
Robert Douglas Melvin (born August 8, 1952) is a Canadian front-office executive in Major League Baseball (MLB) who previously served as the general manager of the Texas Rangers (1995–2001) and Milwaukee Brewers (2002–2015). He is currently a senior advisor for the Brewers.
After the 2010 season, Melvin made three separate transactions that helped the Brewers get to the playoffs in 2011. On December 6, 2010, he acquired starting pitcher, Shaun Marcum. On December 19, Zack Greinke, who won the Cy Young Award in 2009, was acquired along with shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt. On March 27, 2011, Melvin acquired outfielder Nyjer Morgan. In the same offseason, Melvin released three of the team's most ineffective starters in Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, and Doug Davis.
In 2011, the Brewers won the most games in franchise history with 96 victories. In so doing, the Brewers continued to do well offensively with stars Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun as well as Nyjer Morgan. Along with starters Yovani Gallardo, Randy Wolf, Chris Narveson, the newly acquired Greinke and Marcum pitched considerably more victories than the Brewers' starting pitchers the year before.
The Brewers bullpen was also stellar, led by closer John Axford, who set two new franchise records with most consecutive converted saves (42) and most saves in a season (46). Furthermore, Melvin added Francisco Rodriguez before the mid-season 2011 trading deadline; Rodriguez repeatedly pitched in the eighth inning as Axford's set-up man. Along with Rodriguez, Melvin obtained veteran infielder, Jerry Hairston Jr., who provided timely hitting to bolster an already-solid Milwaukee Brewer offense. As a result, the Milwaukee Brewers won their division for only the second time in their history and made their fourth playoff appearance in 2011. With Nyjer Morgan's game-winning hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a dramatic tenth inning, the Brewers won the divisional playoff series on October 7, 2011. In the National League Championship Series, the Brewers lost to their divisional foe, the St. Louis Cardinals in six games.
On August 11, 2015, Melvin transitioned to an advisory role, leaving his general manager position. Melvin is currently the senior special advisor with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Melvin was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for his home city of Chatham, Ontario, in 2000.
In 2011, as general manager of the Brewers, Melvin was named by Baseball America as its Major League Executive of the Year.
In 2012, Melvin was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 2018, Melvin was inducted onto the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor.
External links
Categories: 1952 Births, Living People, Major League Baseball General Managers, Major League Baseball Farm Directors, Baltimore Orioles Executives, Milwaukee Brewers Executives, New York Yankees Executives, Texas Rangers Executives, Sportspeople From Chatham-kent, Gulf Coast Pirates Players, Niagara Falls Pirates Players, Fort Lauderdale Yankees Players, West Haven Yankees Players, Canadian Sports Executives And Administrators, Canadian Baseball Hall Of Fame Inductees
|
|
