(AUDACY) One-sixth of today's MLB organizations have now seen manager Dusty Baker lead them to a division title.
On Thursday night, the Baker-led Houston Astros defeated the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays by the score of 3-2 to clinch the AL West title. It marked the fourth time in the last five years that the Astros finished atop the AL West, with Baker leading them to the accomplishment in his second season in Houston — and first 162-game season. More impressively, it marked the first time in MLB history that a manager has led five different franchises to a division title.
Baker has now guided the Astros, Giants, Cubs, Reds and Nationals to division titles, and he explained after this most recent victory that this feat came under the most difficult circumstances.
"Well, every one is special," Baker said, according to MLB.com. "This one is really special because of the negative vibes that we got from all over the world. Our fans here were great. It was so great to do it here at home. It’s very special, especially when I was called back out of retirement and got a great group of guys and a great team. These guys are so together. That’s what I like more than anything.
"Every time you win, it ranks higher than the last time, and you never get tired of winning."
Here's the list of all the teams that Baker has led to a division title, courtesy of Baseball Reference:
Interestingly, Baker's winningest season was his first — a 103-59 campaign with the Giants in 1993 — but they wound up finishing second in the division because of the alignment of the league at the time, with the Braves finishing first in the West with a 104-58 record.
While he accomplished so much as a manager, Baker is still chasing that elusive World Series championship. Perhaps the 2021 Astros can complete that dream for him and make his "greatest" year even greater.
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