The Colorado Rockies announced today that they have named Bud Black as the seventh manager in Colorado Rockies history.
Black, 59, comes to the Rockies after spending the 2016 season as a special assistant to the general manager with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Black served as pitching coach for the Angels under Manager Mike Scioscia (2000-2006), where he was part of the 2002 World Series championship team before beginning his Major League managerial career with the San Diego Padres (2006-2015). While with the Angels, Black served alongside Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Maddon, who was a bench coach for the Angels from 2000-2005. In 2010, he was named the National League Manager of the Year after guiding the Padres to a 90-72 record (.555) and a second-place finish in the NL West. The Padres ranked second in the NL in ERA (3.39), strikeouts (1,295) and opponent batting average (.240) that season. Black amassed a record of 649-713 record (.477) in his nine seasons as manager in San Diego.
Black was selected in the 17th round of the 1979 First-Year Player Draft out of San Diego State University (where he graduated that year), and spent parts of 15 seasons as a pitcher for the Seattle Mariners (1981), Kansas City Royals (1982-1988), Cleveland Indians (1988-1990, 1995), Toronto Blue Jays (1990) and San Francisco Giants (1991-1994). He went 121-116 (.511) with a 3.84 ERA (2,053.1 IP, 876 ER), a 4.6 strikeouts-per-nine innings rate and a 2.7 walks-per-nine innings rate in 398 career games with 296 career starts. His best season came in 1984 as a member of the Royals, when he went 17-12 with a career-low 3.12 ERA (257.0 IP, 89 ER), 64 walks, 140 strikeouts and an American League-best 1.128 WHIP. The following season, he became a World Series champion as a member of the 1985 Royals.
Born in San Mateo, Calif. before growing up in Longview, Wash., Black began his collegiate baseball career as a pitcher at Lower Columbia College in Longview prior to attending San Diego State University for his junior and senior seasons.
"This is a very exciting time for all of us, welcoming Buddy into the Rockies family as our new manager," said Senior Vice President & General Manager Jeff Bridich. "Buddy's baseball resume is extensive, both as a player and a manager, and his passion is evident in everything he does and says. He brings a pitching mindset, experience managing in the NL West and a competitive edge rivaled by few. We welcome Buddy and his wife Nan to Colorado and we look forward to working together in the years to come."
Black becomes the seventh manager in Rockies history, following Don Baylor (1993-1998), Jim Leyland (1999), Buddy Bell (2000-2002), Clint Hurdle (2002-2009), Jim Tracy (2009-2012) and Walt Weiss (2013-2015). The Rockies announced on Oct. 3 that Walt Weiss had decided to step down from the position following the conclusion of his three-year contract.