Long before Bob Melvin became a manager, he was a major league catcher.
Melvin played 10 seasons in MLB, batting .233 with 35 home runs and 212 RBI. He spent three of those years as a member of the Baltimore Orioles and still looks back on that time fondly.
"Every time I come here, I think of my experiences when I got to play with the Orioles," Melvin told reporters. "It was three really, really fun years for me. ... It's one of the special places for me in baseball."
Melvin joined the Orioles in 1989 at the age of 27. In 257 games with the franchise, he hit .244 with seven homers and 92 RBI.
But most memorable for Melvin was playing for the late Frank Robinson, who managed Baltimore from 1988-91 and won the American League Manager of the Year Award in 1989.
"He was important in my career," Melvin said. "So heavy hearts with him passing away. ... Frank had a big impact on my career."
Robinson passed away in February at the age of 83 after a long battle with cancer. As a player, Robinson hit 586 home runs, 10th most in MLB history. A first-ballot Hall of Famer, he made 14 All-Star Games and won two MVP awards. He was also the first African-American manager in MLB history.
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[RELATED: Frank Robinson dies at 83]
Melvin is now in his 16th season as a major league manager, spending the last nine years with the A's. A three-time Manager of the Year recipient, he is one of just six managers to win the award in both the American League and National League.
After taking two of the first three games against the Orioles this week, Melvin and the A's go for the series victory on Thursday.
