Fred Melvin McGaha (/məkˈɡeɪheɪ/ mək-GAY-hay;[1] September 26, 1926 – February 3, 2002) was an American coach and manager in Major League Baseball as well as a professional basketball player.

McGaha graduated from the University of Arkansas and played a season of professional basketball with the New York Knicks of the NBA.

In the 1944-45 season, his basketball team competed in the NCAA tournament, however, he had entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in early 1945, and was not discharged until November of that year.

After 11 minor league seasons, at age 31, he retired after playing 33 games for the Mobile Bears in the Cleveland Indians organization in 1958.

[14] After retiring as a player, he remained the Bears' manager in 1959, with the team record improving to 89–63,[15] and winning the Southern Assocation championship.

[16] Cleveland promoted him in 1960 to manage the Triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League, leading the team to a 100–54 record.

[19] His 1960 Toronto team included two future major league managers, hall of famer Sparky Anderson and Chuck Tanner.

[19] 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;[citation needed] then, a few days later, moved him back onto the field as Lopat's successor.

[24] McGaha was fired by Finley on May 15, 1965, season after a 5–21 start; on that day, his team was still locked in the league basement, 131⁄2 games out of the lead.

[31] Following his big-league managing career, he worked for the Houston Astros as pilot of the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers (1966–67)[32] and in the Venezuelan Winter League.

[36] McGaha was a member of the 1948 Duluth Dukes and was one of the survivors of a July 24 bus crash in which four players and their manager were killed in a head-on accident with a truck.

[37] After retiring from major league baseball in 1970, he was a director of Parks and Recreation in Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana.