After four seasons managing the Houston Astros, which included winning the 2022 World Series, Dusty Baker announced his retirement during a press conference at Minute Maid Park, while also touching on a potential future role with a team.
Baker came out of retirement in 2020 and led the Astros to two World Series appearances. Their title in 2022 was Baker’s first — and only — of his 26-year managerial career. Although he wants to remain involved with baseball in some capacity, for the time being Baker intends to spend plenty of time with family at his Northern California home.
In four seasons as Astros manager, Baker guided the team to the American League Championship Series four times, won three consecutive AL West titles and two AL pennants. Baker is the oldest manager to win a World Series at 73 years old.
News of his retirement led to an outpour of congratulatory messages and well-wishes, including from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Congratulations Dusty on a storied career, both as a player and manager! Thank you for your contributions in Dodger blue. We wish you the best in retirement.
And for one last time … high five, Dusty! pic.twitter.com/R02L4tiDtS
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2023
When the Astros reached the World Series in 2022, Kenny Landreaux, Eric Karros and Steve Garvey were among those to publicly voice their support of Baker.
When Baker managed the AL team during the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, he did not receive a warm welcome from fans, which disappointed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“If I had it, I wish they wouldn’t have booed Dusty,” Roberts said at the time. “Dusty had nothing to do with it. If anything, he’s been a great voice for baseball, he was a great Dodger. So if I could take that back and prompt fans not to do that, I wish I would’ve done that.”
Baker finished with 2,183 managerial wins, good for seventh-most in history in MLB history. He won division titles with five different clubs and led teams to a pennant in both leagues — San Francisco Giants and Astros.
Dusty Baker’s career with Dodgers
Long regarded as one of the more popular figures in baseball history, Baker enjoyed a 19-year playing career. That included time with the Dodgers and winning the 1981 World Series against the vaunted New York Yankees.
The Riverside, California, native played eight seasons for the Dodgers. Along with the World Series win, he additionally helped the Dodgers set an MLB record in 1977 as the first team with four players to hit at least 30 home runs in a single season.
Baker celebrated the accomplishment with Glenn Burke on October 2, 1977, with what is widely believed to be the first high-five in sports history.
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