With his toothpick, stylish glasses and signature coolness, Dusty Baker has become a beloved figure in recent baseball history. Now, he has a chance to become an immortal.
The veteran manager has another chance to secure a World Series ring next week, as his Astros team faces the surprising Phillies in this year’s Fall Classic.
While Baker has been heralded for his ability to right the ship and turn any team into a true winner, the highest prize in the baseball world has proven elusive, despite some loaded squads over the years. .
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There’s a simple reason Dusty Baker wears gloves during Astros games
There are many meaningful stories surrounding the World Series — Rob Thompson’s first as a manager, Bryce Harper trying to fulfill a prophecy, putting the ghosts of the Astros’ 2017 cheating scandal firmly in the past. Yes – but no story can be like that. Prominent as Baker’s quest to win a ring as captain of a ball club.
Has Dusty Baker won a World Series?
Unfortunately for the 73-year-old, Baker has never won a World Series as a manager. He has had many opportunities during his managerial career: he managed the Giants (1993 to 2002), Cubs (2003–06), Reds (2008–13), Nationals (2016–17) and Astros (2020–present). is .
Baker has guided his teams to nine division titles and three World Series appearances, but has come up short in each.
How many times has Dusty Baker been to the World Series?
The 2022 World Series marks the third time Dusty Baker has gone to the World Series as a manager.
He previously guided teams in 2002 (with the Giants) and 2021 (with the Astros). He has led his teams to the postseason 12 times in his career.
Dusty Baker World Series Record
Dusty Baker is 0-2 in the World Series. As manager of the Giants in 2002, lost to the Angels in the Fall Classic.
TSN Archives: 2002 Angels’ one-of-a-kind World Series win
It would be nearly two decades before Baker made it to another World Series, with the Astros in 2021. Houston would lose to the Braves in six.
His overall World Series game-by-game record is 5-8.
| the year | the team | opponent | result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | San Francisco Giants | Anaheim Angels | 4-3, ANA |
| 2021 | Houston Astros | Atlanta Braves | 4-2, ATL |
Most MLB managers win without a World Series title
Baker holds the unfortunate distinction of having the most regular-season wins as a manager without a World Series ring.
In 2021, Baker made several jumps on the all-time winningest managers list, solidly moving into ninth place all-time. All eight managers since him have won multiple World Series, except Bobby Cox, who has one.
| rank | the manager | wins | damage | Won the World Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connie Mack | 3,731 is | 3,948 is | five |
| 2 | Tony La Russa | 2,902 is | 2,515 is | Three |
| 3 | John McGraw | 2,763 is | is 1,948 | Three |
| 4 | Bobby Cox | 2,504 | 2,001 is | one |
| 5 | Joe Torre | 2,326 is | 1,997 is | Four |
| 6 | Sparky Anderson | 2,194 is | is 1,834 | Three |
| 7 | Bucky Harris | 2,158 is | 2,219 is | Three |
| 8 | Joe McCarthy | 2,215 is | is 1,333 | Seven |
| 9 | Dusty Baker | is 2,093 | 1,790 is | zero |
| 10 | Walter Alston | is 2,008 | 1,709 is | Four |
Of the top 25 managers with all-time wins, only four do not have World Series rings: Baker, Gene Mauch, Buck Showalter and Clark Griffith.
Did Dusty Baker win a World Series as a player?
Baker is not completely unfamiliar with championship champagne. He won a World Series with the Dodgers as a player in 1981, and had one year. The outfielder slashed .320/363/.445 in 103 games in Los Angeles, with nine home runs and 49 RBI that season.
He would make it to the World Series in two previous seasons with the Dodgers, losing to the Yankees in both 1977 and 1978.
Well, with a win over the Yankees in the 2022 ALCS, maybe a little revenge was served.
