Bud Black

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Black graduated from Mark Morris High School in Longview, Washington. He initially pitched collegiately for Lower Columbia College. The San Francisco Giants selected him in the third round of the January 1977 amateur draft and the New York Mets selected him in the second round of the June 1977 MLB draft, but he did not sign with either team. He then attended San Diego State University, pitching for the Aztecs in 1978 and 1979. He graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in management. He was inducted into the Aztecs Hall of Fame in 1992. He played in MLB from 1981 through 1995, most notably for the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians. He coached the Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2000 through 2006 and managed the San Diego Padres from 2007 through 2015. He was named the National League Manager of the Year in 2010.

In Their Own Story

On July 24, 1983, Bud Black was on the mound for the Kansas City Royals against the New York Yankees. He pitched the first six innings of what became the Pine Tar Incident. George Brett hit a go-ahead home run that was overturned to a game-ending out because umpires ruled there was too much pine tar on Brett's bat. Black received a no-decision instead of a loss because the game was protested, and the league later reinstated Brett's home run. On September 17, 1984, Reggie Jackson hit his 500th career home run off Black. In 1991 with the San Francisco Giants, Black threw three shutouts, including back-to-back shutouts on May 5 and 10, both against the New York Mets. In 1993, after an August 3 game against the San Diego Padres, Black suffered elbow inflammation that ended his season due to a 60-day disabled list placement.

Reader's Guide

Black made his major league debut with the Seattle Mariners on September 5, 1981. He was traded to the Kansas City Royals in March 1982. He was the Royals' Opening Day starter in 1984, 1985, and 1986. He threw the first shutout of his career on May 23, 1984. He started Game 1 of the 1984 ALCS. In 1985, he pitched in the postseason, including Game 1 of the World Series. On June 3, 1988, the Royals traded Black to the Cleveland Indians. He re-signed with the Indians after the 1988 season. He was Cleveland's Opening Day starter in 1990. On September 16, 1990, the Indians traded Black to the Toronto Blue Jays. On November 9, 1990, he signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Did You Know?

• Black was selected in the third round of the January 1977 amateur draft by the San Francisco Giants and in the second round of the June 1977 MLB draft by the New York Mets, but did not sign with either team.
• On September 17, 1984, Reggie Jackson hit his 500th career home run off of Black.
• Black was involved in the Pine Tar Incident on July 24, 1983, pitching the first 6 innings for the Royals.