Education
McGaha graduated from the University of Arkansas and played a season of professional basketball with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association.
baseball player basketball player
McGaha graduated from the University of Arkansas and played a season of professional basketball with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association.
Born in Bastrop, Louisiana, he stood 6 feet 2 inches (188 m) tall and weighed 198 pounds (90 kg). He signed his first baseball contract with the Saint Louis Cardinals in 1948. An outfielder who batted and threw right-handed, McGaha never played in the Major Leagues.
The following year he was promoted to a coaching post with the parent Cleveland Indians, and then became their manager at age 35 in 1962, succeeding Jimmie Dykes.
McGaha was fired with two games remaining in his maiden season with Cleveland 78–82 and in sixth place in the ten-team American League. In 1963, McGaha became a coach for the Kansas City Athletics.
In June 1964, with the Athletics in last place under manager Eddie Lopat, owner Charlie Finley, known for his quick trigger finger in hiring and firing, abruptly shifted McGaha into the Kansas City front office. Then, a few days later, moved him back onto the field as Lopat"s successor.
The A"s revived somewhat, but still finished in last place.
McGaha was fired by Finley in the 1965 season after a 5–21 start. He was replaced by Haywood Sullivan. In part of three seasons as a Major League manager, McGaha posted a 123–173 record (416).
Following his big-league managing career, he worked for the Houston Astros as a minor league skipper (1966–1967) and Major League coach (1968–1970).
In addition to his baseball managing, McGaha also spent two years as the head men"s basketball coach at Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College (now the University of Arkansas at Monticello), serving as the head coach in 1953-1954 and 1954-1955. He posted a 32–15 (681) record during his two years as the Boll Weevils" head coach–
He died in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at age 75.
McGaha was a member of the 1948 Duluth Dukes and was one of the survivors of a July 24 bus crash where four players and their manager were killed in a head on accident with a truck.
