2021 World Series: A baseball lifer will get their ring

And then there were two. The 2021 World Series is set, as the Houston Astros will face off against the Atlanta Braves. While the Astros have been frequent participants in the World Series in recent years, this marks the first time that the Braves have gotten this far since 1999.

While the focus is going to be on the players, the two bench generals deserve a good amount of focus as well. Both Dusty Baker and Brian Snitker, a pair of baseball lifers, are getting their chance at their first ring as a manager.

A baseball lifer will have their dream come true in 2021 World Series

Baker does have one ring as a player, as he was part of the 1981 Dodgers team that won the championship. And he has found a great deal of success as a manager, winning at least 90 games in 11 of his 24 years on the bench. In that team, Baker has been to the postseason 11 times, having plenty of chances to earn another ring.

But that has not happened. Baker has been to just one World Series as a manager, falling in seven games to the Angels in the 2002 World Series. That was also the only league pennant that Baker had won before this year. Now, at 72 years old, he has another chance to capture that elusive ring as a manager, 19 years after his first opportunity.

Snitker, on the other hand, has spent his entire career in the Braves organization. He has been a part of the Braves since 1977, first as a minor league player, then as a long time minor league coach and manager. He finally got his chance in the majors in 2016, with the young roster responding to the ten 60 year old neophyte. Now, after four consecutive NL East titles, he will get his chance in the World Series.

Unfortunately, one of these managers will taste defeat, their quest continuing for at least another year. While there may be a great deal of joy on one side, the same cannot be said on the other. But for one manager, their dreams will come true.

The 2021 World Series will be the culmination of a lifetime in the game for either Dusty Baker or Brian Snitker. May the best manager win!