Who is Dusty Baker? Manager bound for Cooperstown’s Hall of Fame after retirement

Dusty Baker, a renowned figure in Major League Baseball, is expected to retire as a manager after the Houston Astros’ loss to the Texas Rangers in the 2023 American League Championship Series. Having managed various teams since 1993, including the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, and Houston Astros, Baker has left an indelible mark on the game.

Last year, at the age of 74, Baker achieved his first World Series championship as the manager of the Houston Astros. This victory solidified his reputation as one of the greatest managers in the sport.

With an impressive record of 2,183 regular-season wins, Baker ranks among the most successful managers in history. Only six former managers, all National Baseball Hall of Famers, have more regular-season wins than Baker: Connie Mack, Tony La Russa, John McGraw, Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, and Sparky Anderson.

It comes as no surprise that Baker will soon join these esteemed managers in Cooperstown as a Hall of Fame inductee.

Let’s delve into five fascinating insights about Dusty Baker’s esteemed career:

Baker’s Successes with the Cincinnati Reds

Out of his 2,183 regular-season managerial wins, Baker achieved 509 victories with the Cincinnati Reds. This is the second-highest win total he had with any team he managed. From 2008 to 2013, Baker led the Reds to a solid 509-463 record, resulting in a commendable .524 winning percentage.

The rest of his regular-season managerial wins can be broken down as follows: 840 wins with the San Francisco Giants from 1993 to 2002, 322 wins with the Chicago Cubs from 2003 to 2006, 192 wins with the Washington Nationals in 2016 and 2017, and 320 wins with the Houston Astros from 2020 to 2023.

During his tenure with the Reds, Baker’s postseason record was 2-7. He achieved a record of 11-13 during the postseason with the Giants, 6-6 with the Cubs, and 4-6 with the Nationals. However, after the Astros’ loss in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, Baker’s playoff record with the team now stands at an impressive 34-19.

Consistent Performance as a Manager

Over the past 10 seasons, each of the teams managed by Baker finished no worse than 3rd place in their division. An astounding nine out of those 10 teams made it to the postseason.

In particular, the 2010 Cincinnati Reds, under Baker’s leadership, made a remarkable leap from a 4th-place finish the previous year to clinching 1st place in their division.

However, the 2011 season was the only exception, with the Reds failing to reach the playoffs.

In 2012, Baker’s Cincinnati team narrowly lost the best-of-5 National League Division Series to the Giants after initially winning the first two away games.

The 2013 Reds fell short in the postseason, losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Wild Card game.

Baker’s Washington Nationals teams consistently dominated the National League East division.

Furthermore, the 2020 Astros, despite losing in the American League Championship Series, finished atop the American League West division for the third consecutive season.

Manager of the Year Successes

Baker’s remarkable managerial skills earned him three Manager of the Year awards, all received during his tenure with the San Francisco Giants.

In 1993, Baker was named the National League Manager of the Year, making an immediate impact in his first season with the Giants. He went on to win the award again in 1997 and 2000, solidifying his reputation as one of the best managers in the game.

During his time with the Reds, Baker narrowly missed out on the Manager of the Year title. In 2010, he finished second, just one point behind Bud Black of the San Diego Padres. Similarly, in 2012, he came in second, trailing former Reds skipper Davey Johnson of the Nationals.

A Star on and off the Field

Prior to his successful managerial career, Dusty Baker made a name for himself as a player. Playing for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A’s, and San Francisco Giants, Baker had an illustrious 19-season career in MLB.

As a Dodger, Baker earned two All-Star selections and finished fourth in the voting for the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1980. He also received a prestigious Silver Slugger award.

Throughout his career, Baker recorded impressive statistics, amassing a .278 batting average, 242 home runs, and 1,013 RBIs in 8,022 plate appearances.

A Familial Connection to the Game

Continuing the baseball legacy, Dusty Baker’s son, Darren Baker, has also pursued a career in the sport. Darren, at the age of 24, spent the previous season with the Triple-A team of the Washington Nationals in Rochester.

During this year’s American League Championship Series, Darren could be found in the Astros’ dugout before games, adding to the excitement surrounding his father’s managerial journey.

Moreover, Darren’s baseball journey has personal significance. As a 3-year-old, he was famously saved by JT Snow during the 2002 World Series, preventing an unfortunate incident at home plate.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer and explores Dusty Baker’s legendary career, his retirement plans, and the strong possibility of his induction into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.