Major League Baseball Player, Manager. Born Sabath Anthony Mele, he was a right fielder for several Major League Baseball clubs from 1947 to 1956 and then managed the American League's Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1967, leading them to the American League title in 1965. He played baseball in both high school and college and after one year in the Northern League, signed with the Boston Red Sox. Before he could join the Red Sox, he joined the Marine Corps and served during the Second World War. After the war, he joined the Red Sox organization and played a few years in their minor league system. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 1947 and for the next nine years, he played for not only the Red Sox, but also the Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians. During his playing career, he batted .267 with 80 home runs in 1,046 games. After he retired from playing, he joined the Senators as a scout. In 1959 he became a coach for the Senators under manager Cookie Lavagetto and served in this capacity for two years before replacing Lavagetto as manager of the now Minnesota Twins. He would go on to manage the Twins until 1967 when he was fired and replaced by Cal Ermer. During his managerial tenure with the Twins, he led them to the American League pennant in 1965 before losing to the National League champs Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. His managerial record was 524 wins and 436 losses. After leaving the Twins, he rejoined his old team, the Boston Red Sox, as a special assignments scout and served in this capacity from 1967 to 1994. He passed away of natural causes.
Major League Baseball Player, Manager. Born Sabath Anthony Mele, he was a right fielder for several Major League Baseball clubs from 1947 to 1956 and then managed the American League's Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1967, leading them to the American League title in 1965. He played baseball in both high school and college and after one year in the Northern League, signed with the Boston Red Sox. Before he could join the Red Sox, he joined the Marine Corps and served during the Second World War. After the war, he joined the Red Sox organization and played a few years in their minor league system. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 1947 and for the next nine years, he played for not only the Red Sox, but also the Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians. During his playing career, he batted .267 with 80 home runs in 1,046 games. After he retired from playing, he joined the Senators as a scout. In 1959 he became a coach for the Senators under manager Cookie Lavagetto and served in this capacity for two years before replacing Lavagetto as manager of the now Minnesota Twins. He would go on to manage the Twins until 1967 when he was fired and replaced by Cal Ermer. During his managerial tenure with the Twins, he led them to the American League pennant in 1965 before losing to the National League champs Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. His managerial record was 524 wins and 436 losses. After leaving the Twins, he rejoined his old team, the Boston Red Sox, as a special assignments scout and served in this capacity from 1967 to 1994. He passed away of natural causes.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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