HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros supervisor Dusty Baker gained his 2,000th sport Tuesday night time, turning into the twelfth skipper in main league historical past to achieve 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 6, 1993, in San Francisco’s 2-1 victory over St. Louis.
“I’m most likely one of many luckiest males to ever stroll on this earth,” a grinning Baker stated minutes after the ultimate out.
The 72-year-old Baker stated being the primary Black supervisor to achieve 2,000 wins makes the achievement much more significant.
“It means additional,” he stated. “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 most recent milestone in a storied profession as a participant and supervisor that has spanned greater than 50 years. Baker has reached the World Sequence twice as a supervisor, final season with the Astros and in 2002 with the Giants. As a participant, he went thrice with the Dodgers, profitable all of it as a big-hitting left fielder in 1981.
So the place does this second rank?
“Proper now it’s on the prime,” he stated. “However I ain’t gonna cease now.”
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.
“This could lead straight to the Corridor of Fame,” Astros catcher Martín Maldonado stated.
Baker’s gamers introduced him with a bottle of classic Dom Pérignon champagne they signed with a gold marker to commemorate the achievement. The workforce toasted Baker with way more moderately priced champagne within the clubhouse after the sport.
His spouse, Melissa, and a gaggle of about 10 associates have been on the ballpark. Melissa Baker smiled as she filmed her husband postgame from the stands as the large display displayed an image of him with the phrases “2K Wins” in enormous white letters.
Baker’s profession document is 2,000-1,745 and he’s the one supervisor in main league historical past to take 5 groups to the postseason.
He 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 he has 137 in his tenure with the Astros.
“I’m simply doing my job,” Baker stated. “I’m not that pleased with myself but.”
He reached 500 wins whereas 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 any person 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 stated. “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 with no 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 stated. “My telephone wasn’t ringing off the hook. Three completely different instances I misplaced jobs and twice I used to be profitable, 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’m … the place I’m alleged to be.”
Proper-hander Lance McCullers raved about Baker as a supervisor and a person and famous the troublesome scenario he walked into when he was employed in Houston.
“He helped us by means of a troublesome time as a clubhouse,” McCullers stated. “There in 2020 we have been navigating by means of a number of uneven water (and) every part occurring post-COVID. He’s earned our respect. It’s a giant milestone for him tonight. Most likely some of the unique golf equipment round.”
Baker, who wants 41 wins to maneuver all the best way as much as No. 9 on the profession checklist, was requested about cracking the highest 10.
“I’ll get there lengthy as I reside,” he stated. “That’s my factor. So long as I reside and so long as you simply do your job — and my job is to win — then I’ll get there.”
Baker stated the very first thing he considered after the ultimate out was being there when Bochy, a great pal, reached 2,000 wins. After which a second thought instantly popped into his head.
“That’s the very first thing I thought of,” he stated. “And subsequent factor I thought of is that I wanted three extra to (catch) Bruce.”
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