Last Friday Bob Melvin took over as the new A’s manager. His last stint as skipper was for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009. He also managed the Mariners 2003-2004.
Melvin was teammates in 1987 with Bob Brenly on the San Francisco Giants. Brenly managed the Diamondbacks to their only World Series title in 2001.
Before retiring in a Giants uniform in 1989, Brenly played briefly on the Toronto Blue Jays along with pitcher Mike Flanagan.
Flanagan was the 1979 Cy young award winner for the Baltimore Orioles. His teammate Tippy Martinez had the distinction of picking 3 runners off first base in one inning.
Tippy played for the New York Yankees in 1976 along with Lou Piniella,
Piniella, who managed the Seattle Mariners prior to Bob Melvin in 2003, was playing for the Kansas City Royals in 1971 with side-arm closer Ted Abernathy.
Abernathy pitched relief for the 1969 Cubs and their All Star 3rd baseman, Ron Santo.
From new manager Bob Melvin to old Cubbie Ron Santo in 6 degrees.
Nice selection of cards! That Tippy Martinez three-pickoff game comes with a story, too. Because of several player switches, the Orioles fielded Lenn Sakata as emergency catcher for the 10th inning. Runners couldn't wait to try and steal on him, so took big leads and Tippy picked them all off. Sakata then hit a game-winning HR in the bottom half. Can you imagine the post-game Toronto locker room?
ReplyDelete