Dusty Baker wins 2,000th game as MLB manager as Astros top Mariners

HOUSTON — Simply name him Mr. 2,000.

Houston Astros supervisor Dusty Baker received his 2,000th sport Tuesday night time, changing into the twelfth supervisor in main league historical past to succeed in the milestone and the primary Black man to do it.

The benchmark victory got here in Houston’s 4-0 win over the Seattle Mariners and comes greater than 29 years after he collected his first win on April 9, 1993, in San Francisco’s 2-1 victory over St. Louis.

Earlier than Tuesday’s sport, whereas nonetheless sitting at 1,999 wins, Baker was requested what it might imply to him to succeed in 2,000.

“You may’t look again as a result of you’ve gotten work to do going ahead,” Baker mentioned. “And you’ll’t gloat about what you’ve completed till after your profession is over with. Then when your profession is over with, then you definately assess all the state of affairs. However when you’re in it, you don’t have time to try this.”

However the 72-year-old Baker did acknowledge that being the primary Black supervisor to succeed in 2,000 wins makes the achievement extra significant.

“It means additional,” he mentioned. “It means additional to the tradition. It means additional to society. It means additional to my race, and it means additional hopefully for others to get a possibility (so) I’m not the final.”

It’s the newest milestone in a storied profession as a participant and supervisor that has spanned greater than 50 years. Baker has reached the World Collection twice as a supervisor, final season with the Astros and in 2002 with the Giants. As a participant, he went thrice with the Dodgers, successful all of it as a big-hitting left fielder in 1981.

Ten of the 11 different managers who’ve gathered at the least 2,000 wins are within the Corridor of Fame. Bruce Bochy (2,003), who isn’t but eligible, is the one exception.

Baker’s profession file is 2,000-1,745 and he is the one supervisor in main league historical past to take 5 completely different groups to the postseason.

Baker collected 840 wins in 10 years with the Giants, 322 in 4 seasons with the Cubs, 509 in six years with the Reds, 192 in two seasons with the Nationals and has 137 in his tenure with the Astros.

He reached 500 wins whereas nonetheless with the Giants in a 6-5 victory over the Phillies on June 1, 1999. His 1,000th win got here on Aug. 30, 2004, whereas managing the Cubs to a 5-2 victory over Montreal. Win No. 1,500 got here on Might 9, 2012, with the Reds in a 2-1 conquer Milwaukee.

“It’s an honor to play for someone who loves the sport and loves his workforce and is so educated in regards to the sport of baseball and who has had such a storied profession,” Houston third baseman Alex Bregman mentioned. “To have the ability to be taught from him, play for him and simply to have the ability to go well with up with him each single day may be very particular and no person in right here takes that without any consideration.”

There was a time Baker puzzled if he’d even get an opportunity to chase this milestone. After being fired by the Nationals following a 97-win season in 2017, Baker didn’t get one other job till 2020 after Houston’s sign-stealing scandal value supervisor A.J. Hinch his job.

“If there wasn’t a scandal, I wouldn’t be on this place,” Baker mentioned. “My cellphone wasn’t ringing off the hook. Three completely different instances I misplaced jobs and twice I used to be successful, and I didn’t get a name for 2 years… so, yeah, it’s only a matter of perseverance. And I’m right here and I am… the place I’m purported to be.”

Baker, who wants 41 extra wins to maneuver all the way in which as much as No. 9 on the profession checklist, was requested about cracking the highest 10.

“I’ll get there lengthy as I stay,” he mentioned. “That’s my factor. So long as I stay and so long as you simply do your job — and my job is to win — then I’ll get there.”

Listed below are a number of the milestones he hit alongside the way in which:

• Win No. 1: April 6, 1993 – San Francisco at St. Louis     
• Win No. 500: June 1, 1999 – San Francisco at Philadelphia
• Win No. 1,000: August 30, 2004 – Chicago at Montreal
• Win No. 1,500: Might 9, 2012 – Cincinnati at Milwaukee

“Dusty” was really born Johnnie B. Baker Jr. He was the oldest of 5 kids and received the nickname Dusty from his mom as a result of he consistently performed in a unclean spot within the yard.

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Baker was born in Riverside, California earlier than shifting to Sacramento to play baseball at Del Campo Excessive Faculty. He would forego school after being drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1967.

Baker made his MLB debut for the Braves in 1968, enjoying in simply six video games for the Braves. He would make a number of appearances for the group earlier than changing into a mainstay on the roster in 1972. 

Baker went on to play eight seasons for the Braves earlier than becoming a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1976. In LA, Baker would turn out to be a two-time All-Star in 1981-82 and received a World Collection as a participant in 1981.

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He spent eight seasons with the Dodgers earlier than becoming a member of the San Francisco Giants in 1984. He would solely play baseball for 2 extra seasons as a member of the Oakland Athletics in 1985 and 1986.

Baker completed his profession with a .278 common, 1,981 hits, 242 dwelling runs and 1,013 RBIs.

Baker rejoined the Giants as a coach in 1988. He finally was employed because the full-time supervisor in 1993. Paradoxically, Baker’s first season as supervisor was his winningest, as he completed with a file of 103-59.

He would finally win NL Supervisor of the 12 months in 1993, 1997 and 2000.

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A Wild Card berth in 2002 received Baker to win the NL pennant as supervisor, the place the Giants would face the then Anaheim Angels within the 2002 World Collection.

Baker and the Giants misplaced in seven video games.

Baker left San Francisco because the winningest supervisor in franchise historical past (840-715) earlier than that file was damaged by Bruce Bochy.

Baker made different stops on his highway to 2,000 wins.

After San Francisco, Baker joined the Chicago Cubs for 4 seasons. He would solely make the playoffs in his first 12 months in 2003.

He would take the 12 months off in 2007 earlier than returning to managing in 2008 with the Cincinnati Reds.

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Baker led the Reds to postseason appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2013, earlier than finally being fired by Cincinnati.

The Washington Nationals employed Baker for the 2016 season. He would win 95 and 97 video games with the Nationals, however postseason failures led to the workforce not bringing Baker again.

Baker was employed to switch the outgoing A.J. Hinch in 2020.

In his first season with the Astros, Baker completed with a file of 29-31 throughout the shortened COVID-19 season.

Regardless of ending below .500, the workforce made the postseason resulting from new guidelines, which helped Baker lead the workforce all the way in which to the ALCS. Houston finally misplaced in seven video games to the Tampa Bay Rays.

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Baker led the Astros again to the World Collection in 2021 after an unimaginable 95-67 season that noticed lots of his star gamers harm and unable to contribute.

Houston took down the Chicago White Sox within the ALDS and the Boston Pink Sox within the ALCS, earlier than finally dropping in six video games to Baker’s previous franchise, the Atlanta Braves.

As soon as he hits his 2,000th win, Baker will turn out to be the twelfth supervisor to hit that milestone.

He can instantly get into the top-10 all-time with 2,009 wins later this season.

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