With his toothpick, stylish glasses and signature coolness, Dusty Baker has become a beloved figure in recent baseball history. Now, he has an opportunity to become an eternal one.
The veteran manager has another opportunity to secure a World Series ring over the next week, as his Astros squad takes on the surprising Phillies in this year's Fall Classic.
While Baker has been heralded for his ability to right the ship and turn any team into a bona-fide winner, the highest prize in the baseball world has proven to be elusive, despite having some loaded squads through the years.
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There are plenty of worthwhile stories surrounding the World Series — Rob Thomson's first go of it as a manager, Bryce Harper looking to fulfill a prophecy, the Astros putting the ghosts of the 2017 cheating scandal firmly in the past — but no story might be as prominent as Baker's quest to win a ring as the skipper of a ballclub.
Has Dusty Baker won a World Series?
Unfortunately for the 73-year-old, Baker has never won a World Series as manager. He has had several opportunities throughout his managerial career: He's managed the Giants (1993 to 2002), Cubs (2003-06), Reds (2008-13), Nationals (2016-17) and Astros (2020-present) in that span.
Baker has guided his teams to nine division titles and three World Series appearances, but has come up short in each.
How many times has Dusty Baker been to the World Series?
The 2022 World Series marks the third time that Dusty Baker has been to the World Series as a manager.
He previously guided teams that far in 2002 (with Giants) and 2021 (with Astros). He has led his teams to the postseason 12 times in his career.
Dusty Baker World Series record
Dusty Baker is 0-2 in the World Series. As manager of the Giants in 2002, losing to the Angels in the Fall Classic.
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It would be nearly two decades until Baker would make it to another World Series, this time with the Astros in 2021. Houston would lose to the Braves in six.
His overall World Series game-by-game record is 5-8.
| Year | Team | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | San Francisco Giants | Anaheim Angels | 4-3, ANA |
| 2021 | Houston Astros | Atlanta Braves | 4-2, ATL |
Most MLB wins without a World Series title as a manager
Baker holds the unfavorable distinction of holding the most regular-season wins as a manager without having a World Series ring.
In 2021, Baker made several jumps on the all-time winningest manager list, moving firmly into ninth place all-time. All eight managers ahead of him have multiple World Series wins, save for Bobby Cox, who has one.
| Rank | Manager | Wins | Losses | World Series wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connie Mack | 3,731 | 3,948 | Five |
| 2 | Tony La Russa | 2,902 | 2,515 | Three |
| 3 | John McGraw | 2,763 | 1,948 | Three |
| 4 | Bobby Cox | 2,504 | 2,001 | One |
| 5 | Joe Torre | 2,326 | 1,997 | Four |
| 6 | Sparky Anderson | 2,194 | 1,834 | Three |
| 7 | Bucky Harris | 2,158 | 2,219 | Three |
| 8 | Joe McCarthy | 2,215 | 1,333 | Seven |
| 9 | Dusty Baker | 2,093 | 1,790 | Zero |
| 10 | Walter Alston | 2,008 | 1,709 | Four |
Of the top 25 managers all time by wins, only four don't have World Series rings: Baker, Gene Mauch, Buck Showalter and Clark Griffith.
Did Dusty Baker win a World Series as a player?
Baker isn't wholly unfamiliar with championship champagne. He won a World Series as a player in 1981 with the Dodgers, and had a heck of a year, at that. The outfielder slashed .320/363/.445 in 103 games in Los Angeles, with nine home runs and 49 RBIs in that season.
He would make it to the World Series in two prior seasons with the Dodgers, losing to the Yankees in both 1977 and 1978.
Well, with a win over the Yankees in the 2022 ALCS, maybe a modicum of revenge has been served.