Houston Astros: Dusty Baker makes history with playoff berth

The Houston Astros had to claw their way into the postseason, but it was a historical moment nonetheless.

Dusty Baker was seemingly a caretaker for the Houston Astros. Following the revelations of AstroGate, and the ignoble departures of AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow, Baker was the perfect person to oversee 2020. He is a respected figure in the game, a baseball lifer whose integrity is unquestioned. The Astros needed someone like that on the bench.

This partnership has also worked out well for Baker. On Friday, he became the first manager to lead five different teams to the postseason.

Despite this accomplishment, Baker is typically remembered for his struggles in the postseason. He has only gotten past the first round twice, in 2002 and 2003. In that first year, he brought the Giants to the World Series, eventually falling in seven games to the Angels. Then, in 2003, he was the manager when the Cubs were again doomed by the Curse of the Billy Goat, this time in the guise of Steve Bartman.

While Baker has not had much success in the postseason, he has been a tremendous regular season manager. He ranks 15th all time with 1892 wins as a manager, winning seven division titles in his 23 years on the bench.

Baker also has an outside shot at another milestone. His 1892 victories rank 15th all time, just four behind Hall of Famer Bill McKechnie. While it may not be until 2022, when he would be 73 years old, Baker has a chance to become the 12th manager in MLB history to reach the 2000 victory plateau.

This also puts Baker’s career into an interesting light. There are only two managers with more major league victories who have not been enshrined in Cooperstown – Bruce Bochy and Gene Mauch. Bochy is seemingly destined for induction into the Hall of Fame. If Baker manages long enough to get to that 2000 win mark, he may find his way to immortality as well.

Dusty Baker made history with the Houston Astros on Friday. If he remains on the bench for two more years, the Astros may put a cap on a potentially Hall of Fame career.