Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker on Tuesday became the 12th manager in MLB history to reach 2,000 career wins.
Baker, also the first Black skipper to achieve the feat, joined the illustrious list with the Astros’ 4-0 win over the Seattle Mariners. All but one of the previous managers to reach 2,000 wins are in the Hall of Fame. The exception is Bruce Bochy, who isn’t yet eligible.
The other managers to win 2,000 games are: Connie Mack (3,731), Tony La Russa (2,828), John McGraw (2,763), Bobby Cox (2,504), Joe Torre (2,326), Sparky Anderson (2,194), Bucky Harris (2,158), Joe McCarthy (2,125), Walter Alston (2,040), Leo Durocher (2,008) and Bochy (2,003).
Baker, 72, now has a 2,000-1,745 record. He is the only manager to take five different teams to the playoffs, including the Nationals.
He started his managerial career with the San Francisco Giants, reaching the World Series in his 10th and final year with the club in 2002. He then spent four years with the Cubs and six more with the Reds before returning to the bench to lead the Nationals to NL East crowns in 2016 and 2017.
After a two-year hiatus, Baker joined the embattled Astros, who were engulfed in a cheating scandal, in 2020. One year later, he led the team to the Fall Classic, losing to the Braves.
Baker went to three World Series with the Dodgers, winning a ring as a left fielder in 1981, but he’s never won one as a manager.
This article includes wire service reports.
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.