Brian Graham
Encyclopedia
For the Scottish footballer, see Brian Graham (footballer)
Brian Graham (born April 9, 1960 in San Diego, California
) is a former minor league baseball
player, coach and manager and major league coach for the Cleveland Indians
. He is currently the special coach for the minor leagues for the Baltimore Orioles
.
where he played both baseball and football
. When he finished his collegiate career, Grahm held school records for hits
, stolen base
s, and runs
. In football, Graham was a member of the 1978 Fiesta Bowl
team. In 1996, he was inducted into the school's Baseball Hall of Fame. Graham also earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in behavioral science from National University
in San Diego.
, and he played in the
minor league systems of Oakland, the Milwaukee Brewers
, the Detroit Tigers
, and the Cleveland Indians
over the next five years as a second baseman
.
's Manager of the Year in 1991 while leading the Kinston Indians
to a championship, the “Best Managerial Prospect” by Eastern League managers and Baseball America
in 1993 and Minor League Manager of the Year by USA Today
's Baseball Weekly in 1996 while with the Buffalo Bisons
. Graham has also managed in the Dominican Republic Winter League for Aguilas
(1991) and has also coached and managed in the Arizona Fall League
(1993-94).
Graham was a major league coach with the Cleveland Indians in 1998 and 1999 and with the Baltimore Orioles in 2000. Graham spent the 2001 season as the Field Coordinator for the Florida Marlins
.
' Baseball “Organization of the Year.”
On September 7, 2007, he was appointed interim General Manager of the Pirates after the dismissal of Dave Littlefield
. On October 5, 2007, he was fired along with manager Jim Tracy, scouting director Ed Creech, and director of baseball operations Jon Mercurio.
Graham was named the special assignment coach for the minor leagues for the Baltimore Orioles
on October 30, 2007.
, with his wife Karen and three
children; son Jack and daughters Kelsey and Kendall.
Brian Graham (footballer)
Brian Graham is a Scottish footballer, currently playing for Raith Rovers.Graham has also spent a season on loan at East Stirlingshire in the Third Division.He is a striker.-Career:...
Brian Graham (born April 9, 1960 in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
) is a former minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
player, coach and manager and major league coach for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. He is currently the special coach for the minor leagues for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
College
Graham attended the University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
where he played both baseball and football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. When he finished his collegiate career, Grahm held school records for hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. In football, Graham was a member of the 1978 Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
team. In 1996, he was inducted into the school's Baseball Hall of Fame. Graham also earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in behavioral science from National University
National University (California)
National University , founded in 1971, is a comprehensive, nonsectarian, independent, accredited, non-profit private university headquartered in La Jolla, California, United States, with academic degree programs offered at campuses located throughout the state, one in Henderson, Nevada, and...
in San Diego.
Minor league career
In 1982, Graham was chosen in the 4th round of the 1982 draft by the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, and he played in the
minor league systems of Oakland, the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, and the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
over the next five years as a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
.
Coaching/managing
In nine seasons as a minor league manager in the Cleveland Indians organization, Graham's teams finished above .500 each year, compiling a 704-491 (.589) record. Graham managed eight consecutive playoff teams. He was named the Carolina LeagueCarolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
's Manager of the Year in 1991 while leading the Kinston Indians
Kinston Indians
The Kinston Indians were a minor league baseball team of the Carolina League , and the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and were named for their parent club...
to a championship, the “Best Managerial Prospect” by Eastern League managers and Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
in 1993 and Minor League Manager of the Year by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
's Baseball Weekly in 1996 while with the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
. Graham has also managed in the Dominican Republic Winter League for Aguilas
Águilas Cibaeñas
The Águilas Cibaeñas are a team in the Dominican Republic's winter baseball league. Founded in and based in Santiago, they have won 5 Caribbean Series and 20 national titles. The Águilas have a large fan base in the Dominican Republic...
(1991) and has also coached and managed in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
(1993-94).
Graham was a major league coach with the Cleveland Indians in 1998 and 1999 and with the Baltimore Orioles in 2000. Graham spent the 2001 season as the Field Coordinator for the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
Major league executive
Graham was signed to the Pirates on December 3, 2001 and eventually rose to be the senior director for player development. In that position, he coordinated instruction and oversaw the signing of free agents, staffing, budgets, player movement, affiliate relationships and the Latin American field operations. In addition, he installed and implemented a system of individual player plans which provided instruction and resources to insure the individual development of every Pirate player. Under Graham, the Pirates minor league teams finished with a combined winning percentage above .500 in four of his five seasons. In 2002, the Pirates were honored as the ToppsTopps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
' Baseball “Organization of the Year.”
On September 7, 2007, he was appointed interim General Manager of the Pirates after the dismissal of Dave Littlefield
Dave Littlefield
David Littlefield is a former Major League Baseball executive. Littlefield was employed as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a position he held from July 13, 2001 to September 7, 2007. He took over as GM for Roy Smith, who had assumed the position on a temporary...
. On October 5, 2007, he was fired along with manager Jim Tracy, scouting director Ed Creech, and director of baseball operations Jon Mercurio.
Graham was named the special assignment coach for the minor leagues for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
on October 30, 2007.
Personal life
Brian Graham currently resides in Cranberry Township, PennsylvaniaCranberry Township, Pennsylvania
Cranberry Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania*Cranberry Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania...
, with his wife Karen and three
children; son Jack and daughters Kelsey and Kendall.