Bob Melvin, who led the upstart A's on an improbable run to the postseason, was named American League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News on Tuesday.
Melvin also claimed the honor in the National League with Arizona in 2007. He joins Billy Martin (1981) and Tony La Russa (1988, 1992) as the only A's managers to win it, after earning six of the nine votes cast by AL managers. Boston's Alex Cora drew three, and Tampa Bay's Kevin Cash one.
"It's an honor to win an award like this that's voted on by my peers," Melvin said. "But it's my players who allow for this to happen, so thanks to them."
Melvin's A's, vastly overlooked at season's start, overcame a heap of adversity and put together a 97-65 record -- their best since 2002 and fourth-best in the Majors -- to earn a spot in the AL Wild Card Game, which they lost to the Yankees.
It marked a 22-win improvement from 2017; three times, Melvin has been at the helm of a team that upgraded by 20 or more wins.
The two-time winner of the Baseball Writers' Association of America Manager of the Year Award is a front-runner to land another next month. Melvin, whose current deal takes him through 2019, is also expected to earn a contract extension this winter.