The Houston Astros are an elite team in MLB: they won the World Series in 2017 and have been a fixture in the playoffs since that year.
They made it all the way to the Fall Classic last year, only to fall at the hands of the Atlanta Braves in six games.
Leading the way in their impressive 2021 postseason run was an accomplished veteran: manager Dusty Baker.
Baker hasn’t been able to win a World Series as a manager yet, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a good skipper: to the contrary, he is a baseball man known for his leadership skills and knowledge of the game.
As it turns out, he is on the verge of making history in Major League Baseball.
“The Houston #Astros, who have reached the playoffs five consecutive years, including three AL pennants and a Word Series title, are now tied for the best record in #MLB with a 4-1 record after knocking off the #Dbacks, 2-1. Manager Dusty Baker is now 9 victories away from 2,000,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted.
The Houston #Astros, who have reached the playoffs five consecutives years, including three AL pennants and a Word Series title, are now tied for the best record in #MLB with a 4-1 record after knocking off the #Dbacks, 2-1. Manager Dusty Baker is now 9 victories away from 2,000.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 13, 2022
An Impressive Achievement
Nightengale explained the Astros’ recent accomplishments to illustrate how good the team is and how Baker will reach the important milestone of 2,000 career wins as a skipper soon, probably this month.
If you were wondering about the historical context of what Baker is about to achieve, only 11 managers have won at least 2,000 MLB games: Connie Mack (the only one with more than 3,000 victories), Tony La Russa, John McGraw, Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, Sparky Anderson, Bucky Harris, Joe McCarthy, Walter Alston, Leo Durocher, and Bruce Bochy.
Baker is 12th in the all-time list with 1,991, and with 1,735 losses, he has a solid .534 winning percentage.
Baker is about to accomplish something that will put him with exclusive company.
NEXT: Steven Souza Jr. Shares His Truth About The Astros