Bud Black

Harry Ralston "Bud" Black (born June 30, 1957) is an American professional baseball manager and pitcher who most recently served as manager for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB from 1981 through 1995, most notably for the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians. He coached the Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2000 through 2006 and managed the San Diego Padres from 2007 through 2015. He was named the National League Manager of the Year in 2010.

Black graduated from Mark Morris High School in Longview, Washington. He initially pitched collegiately for Lower Columbia College. The San Francisco Giants selected him in the third round of the January 1977 amateur draft and the New York Mets selected him in the second round of the June 1977 MLB draft, but he did not sign with either team. He then attended San Diego State University, pitching for the Aztecs in 1978 and 1979. He graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in management. He was inducted into the Aztecs Hall of Fame in 1992.

The Seattle Mariners selected Black in the 17th round of 1979 Major League Baseball draft, with the 417th overall pick. The Mariners assigned him to the San Jose Missions of the Class A-Advanced California League, where he pitched in 17 games, mostly in relief, and posted a 3.00 ERA. He spent the entire 1980 season with San Jose, posting a 5–3 won-lost record with a 3.45 ERA in 32 appearances. In 1981, Black spent time with the Triple-A Spokane Indians and Double-A Lynn Sailors, posting a 3–6 record and 3.13 ERA in 11 starts and 26 total appearances.

Black made his major league debut with the Mariners on September 5, 1981, in a relief appearance where he faced only one batter (Rick Miller of the Boston Red Sox) and gave up a hit. He only made one more appearance that season, the following day where he pitched 1 inning, gave up 1 hit, and issued 3 walks.

In March 1982, the Mariners traded Black to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Manny Castillo. At the time of the trade, Royals general manager John Schuerholz said the team intended to use Black out of the bullpen. He began the 1982 season in the major leagues, primarily as a reliever. On April 18, Black made his first major league start, lasting 5+2⁄3 innings but giving up 9 hits, 7 runs, and 4 walks to the Cleveland Indians. He was optioned in May to the Triple-A Omaha Royals, where he posted a 3–1 record with a 2.49 ERA in 4 starts. The Royals recalled Black to the major leagues in June, adding him to the starting rotation. In his first start back, he pitched 7 innings and held the Minnesota Twins to 5 hits and 1 earned run, striking out 2 and walking 2. In his rookie season, Black had a 4–6 record with a 4.58 ERA across 88+1⁄3 innings.

In 1983, Black began the season with Triple-A Omaha. He was called up in late May and made his season debut on May 25 against the Texas Rangers, lasting 7+2⁄3 innings and giving up 2 earned runs. On July 24 against the New York Yankees, Black pitched the first 6 innings of what would ultimately become the Pine Tar Incident, an incident where George Brett's go-ahead home run was overturned to become a game-ending out because the umpires decided there was too much pine tar on Brett's bat. Black received a no-decision instead of a loss because the game was protested, causing the league to reinstate Brett's go-ahead home run. On August 4 and 9, Black threw back-to-back complete games, both against the Milwaukee Brewers. For the season, Black had a 10–7 record, 161+1⁄3 innings pitched, and a 3.79 ERA.

In 1984, Black was the Royals' Opening Day starter, starting the season with a 7-inning, 2-run outing against the Yankees. On May 23, Black threw the first shutout of his career, blanking the Chicago White Sox as the Royals scored an unearned run to win 1–0. Black threw 8 complete games that season. On September 17, Reggie Jackson hit his 500th career home run off of Black. Black had a 17–12 record, 3.12 ERA and AL-leading 1.128 walks plus hits per innings pitched (WHIP) in 257 innings pitched. Black started Game 1 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS), but he surrendered 7 hits and 4 earned runs across 5 innings as his team was swept by the Detroit Tigers in 3 games.

In 1985, Black was the Royals' Opening Day starter for the second consecutive season. He pitched 7+2⁄3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up 4 hits and 1 earned run. He threw 5 complete games that year, 2 of which were shutouts. He finished the regular season with a 10–15 record, 205+2⁄3 innings pitched, and a 4.33 ERA. In the postseason, Black was both a starting pitcher and relief pitcher. He started Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, lasting 7 innings while giving up 5 hits and 3 runs (2 earned). He was used for 1⁄3 of an inning in Game 3 of the series on one day of rest. In Game 6, Black deployed as a long reliever, holding the Blue Jays scoreless through 3+1⁄3 innings and earning the hold. In Game 1 of the World Series, Black got the final out of the 9th inning after walking two batters. In Game 4, he started and went 5 innings against the Cardinals but gave up 4 hits, 3 earned runs, and took the loss.