Houston Astros: Dusty Baker cements Hall of Fame legacy

With one swing and miss, Dusty Baker entered the history books. Bryan Abreu was able to get Julio Rodriguez to miss a slider low and away, giving the Houston Astros manager a 4-0 victory. That win was also a milestone accomplishment as Baker became the 12th manager in MLB history to win 2000 games.

It is the highlight of his managerial career – for now. While he called this his top accomplishment, Baker also said that he is not going to slow down. He still has his eye on the future and has more accomplishments that he is looking to achieve.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker adds another milestone

Baker has already had an impressive career. He is the first manager to lead five different teams to the postseason, reaching the World Series twice. A three time Manager of the Year, Baker has commanded the respect of the clubhouse wherever he has gone.

Ultimately, his final stop will be in Cooperstown. Ten of the 12 other managers to win 2000 games have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame, with it just being a matter of time before Bruce Bochy gets his due. Baker, the first black manager with 2000 victories, is a shoo-in at this point.

The fact that he got to this point is a bit of a miracle. Baker seemed to be out of baseball after he was fired by the Washington Nationals following the 2017 season despite a pair of 90 win campaigns. He was brought to the Astros following the fallout from AstroGate, almost as much for the respect he commands throughout the game as for his managerial acumen.

There is still one major accomplishment left for Baker. For all of his regular season success, he has yet to win a World Series as a manager. As the Astros are still a contending franchise, it is possible that he will get another chance at that elusive championship.

Dusty Baker is now the 12th manager in MLB history to reach the 2000 victory milestone. His Hall of Fame credentials have gotten stronger.