Dusty Baker is retiring.
The longtime Major League Baseball manager has called it a career following the Houston Astros’ postseason exit. Houston was one game away from making the World Series yet again, but they were dismissed by the Texas Rangers in a thrilling seven-game series.
But that’s the end of the road for Baker, who won his first World Series championship last year as a manager. He opted not to go out on top, but Baker is on his way out after being a manager every year but three since 1993.
According to USA TODAY Sports, Baker said of his decision, “I’m very grateful and thankful to Jim Crane and the Houston Astros for this opportunity, and to win a championship. I felt like they’ve been good for me, and I’ve been good for them.”
Baker revealed to the publication that he considered retirement last year, but Rangers manager and former Giants manager Bruce Bochy talked him out of it. It’s funny, considering that Bochy and his Rangers eliminated Baker and his Astros, thus ending his managerial career.
As a player, Baker made two All-Star teams and won the 1981 World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also won a Gold Glove Award in 1981 with the Dodgers, two Silver Sluggers, and was named NLCS MVP in 1977.
Baker received the NL Manager of the Year Award three times: 1993, 1997, and 2000. He made the World Series with the Giants in 2002, where they lost to the then-named Anaheim Angels. Baker then had stops in Chicago, Cincinnati, and Washington. He won 10 division titles as a manager, earning at least one with every team he led.
Dusty Baker leaves MLB as one of its best managers ever and one of the most recognized names in the game. Cheers to Dusty, and on to a great next chapter in his life.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022