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Melvin grateful to Selig for helping him get started

OAKLAND -- Commissioner Bud Selig spent much of his time at the Coliseum on Tuesday fielding questions about the A's thorny stadium situation. Little light was shed on the issue -- but perhaps more was learned about manager Bob Melvin's relationship with the Commissioner: Selig helped Melvin get his first post-playing career job.

"When I was in Milwaukee, my first stint as a non-player, he was actually a bit instrumental in getting me a job there with the Brewers," Melvin said Tuesday. "I've known him for quite a while, admired what he's done, and baseball is better for his service."

So how did Melvin come to meet Selig, the former Brewers' owner? Through Melvin's great aunt, the late Estie Epstein.

"My great aunt played bridge with his [mother-in-law], if you must know," said Melvin. "It's not what you know, it's who you know."

Melvin started out as a Brewers scout and became a coach in 1999. The rest, of course, is history.

"I can't tell you how much I think of him," Selig said. "He's done a great job as a manager, but he's a marvelous human being.

"I've enjoyed his success almost as much as his family. That's how much I think of him."

Aaron Leibowitz is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
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