| Bud Black | |
|---|---|
 Black with the Colorado Rockies in 2018 | |
| Pitcher /Manager | |
| Born: (1957-06-30)June 30, 1957 (age 68) San Mateo, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 5, 1981, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 9, 1995, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 121–116 |
| Earned run average | 3.84 |
| Strikeouts | 1,039 |
| Managerial record | 1,193–1,403 |
| Winning % | .460 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Harry Ralston "Bud"Black (born June 30, 1957) is an American professionalbaseballmanager andpitcher who most recently served as manager for theColorado Rockies ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB from 1981 through 1995, most notably for theKansas City Royals andCleveland Indians. He coached theAnaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2000 through 2006 and managed theSan Diego Padres from 2007 through 2015. He was named theNational League Manager of the Year in 2010.
Black graduated fromMark Morris High School inLongview, Washington. He initially pitched collegiately forLower Columbia College. TheSan Francisco Giants selected him in the third round of the January 1977 amateur draft and theNew York Mets selected him in the second round of the June1977 MLB draft, but he did not sign with either team.[1] He then attendedSan Diego State University, pitching for theAztecs in 1978 and 1979. He graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree inmanagement.[2][3] He was inducted into the Aztecs Hall of Fame in 1992.[4]
TheSeattle Mariners selected Black in the 17th round of1979 Major League Baseball draft, with the 417th overall pick. The Mariners assigned him to theSan Jose Missions of theClass A-AdvancedCalifornia 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 theTriple-ASpokane Indians andDouble-ALynn Sailors, posting a 3–6 record and 3.13 ERA in 11 starts and 26 total appearances.[5]
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 theBoston 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.[1]
In March 1982, the Mariners traded Black to theKansas City Royals in exchange forManny Castillo. At the time of the trade, Royalsgeneral managerJohn Schuerholz said the team intended to use Black out of thebullpen.[6] He began the 1982 season in the major leagues, primarily as a reliever. On April 18, Black made his first major league start, lasting5+2⁄3 innings but giving up 9 hits, 7 runs, and 4 walks to theCleveland Indians. He was optioned in May to the Triple-AOmaha Royals, where he posted a 3–1 record with a 2.49 ERA in 4 starts.[7][5] 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 theMinnesota Twins to 5 hits and 1 earned run, striking out 2 and walking 2.[8] In his rookie season, Black had a 4–6 record with a 4.58 ERA across88+1⁄3 innings.[1]
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 theTexas Rangers, lasting7+2⁄3 innings and giving up 2 earned runs.[9] On July 24 against theNew York Yankees, Black pitched the first 6 innings of what would ultimately become thePine Tar Incident, an incident whereGeorge Brett's go-ahead home run was overturned to become a game-ending out because the umpires decided there was too muchpine 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.[10] On August 4 and 9, Black threw back-to-backcomplete games, both against theMilwaukee Brewers. For the season, Black had a 10–7 record,161+1⁄3 innings pitched, and a 3.79 ERA.[9]
In 1984, Black was the Royals'Opening Day starter, starting the season with a 7-inning, 2-run outing against theYankees. On May 23, Black threw the firstshutout of his career, blanking theChicago White Sox as the Royals scored an unearned run to win 1–0. Black threw 8 complete games that season.[11][12] On September 17,Reggie Jackson hit his 500th career home run off of Black.[13] Black had a 17–12 record, 3.12 ERA and AL-leading 1.128walks plus hits per innings pitched (WHIP) in 257 innings pitched.[1] Black started Game 1 of theAmerican League Championship Series (ALCS), but he surrendered 7 hits and 4 earned runs across 5 innings as his team was swept by theDetroit Tigers in 3 games.[14]
In 1985, Black was the Royals' Opening Day starter for the second consecutive season. He pitched7+2⁄3 innings against theToronto 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.[15] In the postseason, Black was both a starting pitcher and relief pitcher. He started Game 2 of theAmerican League Championship Series, lasting 7 innings while giving up 5 hits and 3 runs (2 earned). He was used for1⁄3 of an inning in Game 3 of the series on one day of rest. In Game 6, Black deployed as a long reliever, holding theBlue Jays scoreless through3+1⁄3 innings and earning thehold. In Game 1 of theWorld Series, Black got the final out of the 9th inning after walking two batters. In Game 4, he started and went 5 innings against theCardinals but gave up 4 hits, 3 earned runs, and took the loss.[14]
1986 started as planned for Black — he was once again the Opening Day starter, but he struggled against theNew York Yankees with 6 hits and 4 earned runs surrendered across 7 innings. Through his first 3 starts, Black posted a 6.43 ERA, prompting the Royals to move him to the bullpen. He made his first relief appearance in years on April 22, pitching2⁄3 of an inning against the Yankees and giving up one hit. Black's performance improved as a member of the bullpen, ultimately posting a 4–8 record, collecting 9saves and 6 holds while posting a 2.78 ERA in his 107 innings of relief appearances.[16]
Black split the 1987 season between the rotation and bullpen, intermittently moving between starting and relieving. He opened the season as a reliever, not giving up an earned run through his first 5 appearances but blowing a save with 2 earned runs on April 29. In May, Black returned to the starting rotation. He primarily remained as a starter throughout the season, making three relief appearances in September but starting in his final appearance of the year. He finished the year with an 8–6 record, 1 save,122+1⁄3 innings pitched, and a 3.60 ERA.[17]
Black opened the 1988 season with the Royals, only working as a reliever. He made 17 appearances and pitched 22 innings, posting a 2–1 record and a 4.91 ERA.[1]
On June 3, 1988, the Royals traded Black to theCleveland Indians forPat Tabler.[18][19] The Indians went the same direction as the Royals, initially using Black as a relief pitcher. He made his Indians debut on June 5, collecting 1 strikeout against theDetroit Tigers. In July, the Indians converted Black back to a starting pitcher. His stint in the rotation that year lasted 7 games, a stretch where he threw 37 innings, posting a 1–2 record with a 4.86 ERA. In late September, Cleveland moved Black to the bullpen once again for his final two appearances of the season.
After the 1988 season, Black became a free agent but re-signed with the Indians a month later. In 1989, he experienced a revival in his pitching career, being named as the Indians #2 starter behindGreg Swindell. He made his season debut on April 6 against theMilwaukee Brewers, pitching7+2⁄3 innings while giving up 8 hits and 2 earned runs. In 1989, Black pitched 6 complete games, 3 of which were shutouts. He finished the year with a 12–11 record,222+1⁄3 innings pitched, and a 3.36 ERA.
In 1990, Black was Cleveland's Opening Day starter, going 5 innings with 6 hits and 3 earned runs surrendered against theNew York Yankees. He remained the team's ace for most of the year, starting 29 games where posted an 11–10 record with 191 innings pitched and a 3.53 ERA. He threw 5 complete games in that stretch, 2 of which were shutouts.
On September 16, 1990, the Indians traded Black to theToronto Blue Jays forMauro Gozzo and twoplayers to be named later (Steve Cummings andAlex Sanchez).[18] He made his final 3 appearances of the 1990 season with Toronto, including 1 relief appearance and 2 starts. Following the season, he was granted free agency.
On November 9, 1990, Black signed a four-year, $10 million contract with theSan Francisco Giants.[20] In the 1991 season, he was placed second in the starting rotation behindJohn Burkett. He made his Giants debut on April 10, going 7 innings against theSan Diego Padres, giving up 4 hits, 4 runs, and striking out 10. He threw 3 shutouts in 1991, including back-to-back shutouts on May 5 and 10, both times against theNew York Mets. He finished the season with a 12–16 record,214+1⁄3 innings pitched, and a 3.99 ERA.[1]
Black spent the first month of the 1992 season sidelined due to a back sprain he suffered duringspring training.[21] He made his season debut on May 9 against theMontreal Expos, surrendering 7 hits and 8 runs (7 earned) through4+2⁄3 innings. He threw 2 complete games, one of which was a shutout. He finished with a 10–12 record, 177 innings pitched, and a 3.97 ERA.[1]
In 1993, following an August 3 game against theSan Diego Padres, Black suffered elbow inflammation that ended his season due to a 60-daydisabled list placement.[22] He finished with an 8–2 record,93+2⁄3 innings pitched, and a 3.56 ERA.
In 1994, Black pitched a limited number of games due to the1994–95 Major League Baseball strike that ended the season in August. He went 4–2 with54+1⁄3 innings pitched and a 4.47 ERA.[1] Following the season, Black became a free agent.
On April 7, 1995, Black signed a minor-league contract with the Cleveland Indians, marking his second stint with the organization.[23] He was later signed to a major-league deal on April 25. He struggled through 10 starts and 1 relief appearance with the team, posting a 4–2 record in47+1⁄3 innings pitched with a 6.85 ERA.[1] The Indians released Black on July 14.[18]
Following his release from the Indians, several organizations contacted Black about joining their team, but he was only interested in pitching in San Francisco or Cleveland. As a result, he retired as a player in August 1995 and was hired as a special assistant in the Indians organization.[24] His final career stats were a 121–116 record,2053+1⁄3 innings pitched, 398 games (296 started), a 3.84 ERA, a 1.267 WHIP, 1,039 strikeouts, 12 shutouts, and 11 saves.[1]
Between MLB seasons, Black pitched for theLeones del Caracas of theVenezuela Winter League and was a member of the1982 Caribbean Series champion team.
In 1998, Black was the pitching coach for theBuffalo Bisons, Cleveland'sTriple-A affiliate. WhenCharlie Manuel was tapped to manage the Indians for the 2000 season, Black was considered a finalist for the team's pitching coach position, butDick Pole was hired instead.[25]
On November 23, 1999,Anaheim Angels managerMike Scioscia hired Black to be the team's pitching coach, joining a group of new assistant coaching hires that also includedJoe Maddon,Alfredo Griffin,Ron Roenicke, andMickey Hatcher.[25] Black took over an Angels starting rotation that was considered subpar by the media in the previous season. He worked with young pitchers likeJarrod Washburn,Ramón Ortiz, andScott Schoeneweis.[26]
Under Black's direction in 2002, Angels pitchers combined for a 3.69 ERA and a .247batting average against (BAA), both good for fourth-best in the league.[27] In October 2002, as the Angels were preparing for the2002 World Series, the Cleveland Indians inquired about Black becoming the team's next manager after the firing of Charlie Manuel. Black declined the job offer andEric Wedge was hired instead. Black and the Angels took on the Giants in the World Series, a team led byDusty Baker, the manager of the 1993 and 1994 Giants teams that Black pitched for. Following the Angels' defeat of the Giants and the subsequent release of Baker, Black was named as a potential candidate for the San Francisco managerial job.[28]
On October 24, 2003, the Angels gave Black a one-year contract extension to remain with the team through the 2004 season.[29] In November 2003, Black was interviewed by theBoston Red Sox for the team's managerial opening, but the job went toTerry Francona and Black remained with the Angels.[30]
Black coachedBartolo Colón in 2005 during hisAL Cy Young-winning season.
In October2006,Brian Sabean,general manager of the Giants, interviewed Black for the Giants' vacant managerial position.[31] After the position went to Padres managerBruce Bochy, Black became a candidate for the Padres job, and was officially hired on November 8, 2006. Despite a last-place finish for the Padres in2008, Black returned to finish his contract in 2009. During the 2009 season, Black was given a contract extension for the 2010 season with a club option for 2011. During the 2010 season, the Padres gave Black another three-year extension through 2013, with club options in 2014 and 2015.[32]In 2010, Black presided over the worst collapse in Padres history when they went on a ten-game losing streak with a little over a month left in the season, went 12–16 in September and squandered a6+1⁄2-game lead over theGiants for the NL West title. Black nonetheless was the winner of the 2010 National LeagueManager of the Year Award, edgingDusty Baker of theCincinnati Reds in voting by a single point.[33] Black is only the third former full-time pitcher to win a Manager of the Year Award, joiningTommy Lasorda andLarry Dierker.
On June 15, 2015, Black was fired after eight-plus seasons with the Padres after the team started2015 at 32–33 and was six games behind in theNational League West.[34] He finished with a record of 649 wins and 713 losses.[35]
On October 28, 2015,The Washington Post reported that theWashington Nationals intended to hire Black as their new manager following the2015 World Series, replacing fired managerMatt Williams.[36] However, it was later reported that he would not be getting the job.[37] Black turned down the Nationals offer, which he considered to be too low.[38]
On November 25, 2015, it was announced that Black would be returning to theLos Angeles Angels to serve as a special assistant to the new general manager,Billy Eppler.[39] Black previously served as a pitching coach for the team from 2000 to 2006.
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On November 7, 2016, theColorado Rockies announced Black as its new manager.[40] On April 3, 2017, Black won his Rockies debut, defeating theMilwaukee Brewers on Opening Day, notching his 650th win as a manager.[41] Black led the Rockies to the playoffs in both2017 and2018, his first two seasons as Rockies manager.[42]
On February 8, 2022, the Rockies extended Black through the 2023 season.[43] On April 10, Black earned his 1,000th career win as a manager in a game against theLos Angeles Dodgers.[44]
On February 15, 2023, Black signed a one-year contract extension that ran through the 2024 season.[45] The Rockies finished the 2023 season with 103 losses, five more than the franchise's previous high of 98 in 2012. The Rockies also ended the season with 1,543 strikeouts, the most in franchise history as well as the lowest team batting average of .249 (which was just slightly lower than the 2021 team batting average).[46]
In2024, the Rockies suffered their second consecutive 100-loss season.[47] On September 17, 2024, Black became the winningest manager in the franchise's 32–year history following an 8–2 victory over theArizona Diamondbacks, passing the record set previously byClint Hurdle.[48]
On October 8, 2024, Black signed a one-year contract extension with the Rockies for the 2025 season.[48] On May 11, 2025, after a 7–33 (.175) start to the season, the Rockies fired Black.[49]
On January 14, 2026, theSan Diego Padres hired Black to serve as a senior advisor to baseball operations.[50]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | |||
| SD | 2007 | 163 | 89 | 74 | .546 | 3rd in NL West | - | – | – | ||
| SD | 2008 | 162 | 63 | 99 | .389 | 5th in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| SD | 2009 | 162 | 75 | 87 | .463 | 5th in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| SD | 2010 | 162 | 90 | 72 | .556 | 2nd in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| SD | 2011 | 162 | 71 | 91 | .438 | 5th in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| SD | 2012 | 162 | 76 | 86 | .469 | 4th in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| SD | 2013 | 162 | 76 | 86 | .469 | 3rd in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| SD | 2014 | 162 | 77 | 85 | .475 | 3rd in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| SD | 2015 | 65 | 32 | 33 | .492 | Fired | – | – | – | ||
| SD total | 1,362 | 649 | 713 | .477 | - | - | – | ||||
| COL | 2017 | 162 | 87 | 75 | .537 | 3rd in NL West | 0 | 1 | .000 | LostNLWC (ARI) | |
| COL | 2018 | 163 | 91 | 72 | .558 | 2nd in NL West | 1 | 3 | .250 | LostNLDS (MIL) | |
| COL | 2019 | 162 | 71 | 91 | .438 | 4th in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| COL | 2020 | 60 | 26 | 34 | .433 | 4th in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| COL | 2021 | 161 | 74 | 87 | .460 | 4th in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| COL | 2022 | 162 | 68 | 94 | .420 | 5th in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| COL | 2023 | 162 | 59 | 103 | .364 | 5th in NL West | – | – | – | ||
| COL | 2024 | 162 | 61 | 101 | .377 | 5th in NL West | - | - | - | ||
| COL | 2025 | 40 | 7 | 33 | .175 | Fired | - | - | - | ||
| COL total | 1,234 | 544 | 690 | .441 | 1 | 4 | .200 | ||||
| Total[35] | 2,596 | 1,193 | 1,403 | .460 | 1 | 4 | .200 | ||||
Black was born to Canadian parents inNorthern California. He and his wife, a pediatricICU nurse, have two daughters.
· Baseball Almanac| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Anaheim AngelsPitching Coach 2000–2006 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
