Dusty Baker is again within the World Series for an additional shot at an elusive title.
His Houston Astros are prohibitive favorites towards the Philadelphia Phillies within the 118th World Series, which begins Friday at Minute Maid Park, and the toothpick-chewing, 73-year-old Baker as soon as once more might be within the highlight.
In the ultimate yr of his contract, this could possibly be Baker’s last shot at capping a managerial profession that has defied conference. He has taken 5 franchises to the postseason but most likely has spent extra time on the new seat than any supervisor since Billy Martin.
Here are seven reminders of why Baker is somebody you possibly can root for, even you probably have a troublesome time liking the Astros.
1. King of heartbreak
The winningest supervisor of all time with no championship, Baker on Friday will turn into the oldest World Series supervisor, passing Jack McKeon, who was 72 years, 329 days when managing the Florida Marlins in Game 1 of the 2003 World Series towards the New York Yankees.
Baker has had a couple of heartbreaking finishes. His 2002 San Francisco Giants misplaced the World Series to the Anaheim Angels in seven video games after blowing a late lead in Game 6 with a 3-2 sequence benefit. His 2003 Chicago Cubs misplaced the National League Championship Series to the Marlins in seven video games after blowing an eighth-inning lead in Game 6 with a 3-2 sequence lead. And final yr his Astros misplaced the World Series in six video games to the Atlanta Braves.
2. Co-invented the high-five
Facing Astros nice J.R. Richard on the ultimate day of the 1977 common season, Baker wanted one dwelling run to hitch Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith and Ron Cey as the primary foursome with 30-plus homers every in a season.
Baker homered within the sixth inning and was greeted on the plate by teammate Glenn Burke, who held his proper hand over his head for Baker to slap. It was the start of the high-five.
The two repeated the act close to the dugout after Baker’s grand slam towards the Phillies in Game 2 of the 1977 NLCS. According to “Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke,” a Los Angeles Times photograph of that high-five was usually mistaken as a shot of the unique.
3. Hung out with Jimi Hendrix
In a current Rolling Stone profile, Baker replayed the oft-told story of him smoking a joint with Hendrix in San Francisco.
“We were outside Carol Doda’s, which was a strip club we weren’t old enough to go in,” Baker stated. “Plus, I higher not be caught useless in there. Come on.
“So we were standing right there and saw Jimi standing outside on funky Broadway. (My friends) said, ‘Hey, man, offer Jimi a joint.’ So I did it, and then my friends came over and that’s how we met Jimi. I never saw him again after that.”
4. Feud with Tony La Russa
The feud mellowed with age and presumably ended when La Russa stepped down due to well being points on the finish of a disappointing Chicago White Sox season. But it was at its peak in the summertime of 2003, when Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood knocked down St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Morris a few occasions on excessive, inside fastballs.
“The Cardinals back then with Tony, they never did much wrong (but believed) most people were doing wrong to them,” Baker later stated. “Know what I mean?”
Baker and La Russa shouted obscenities at one another from the dugouts, and Morris ripped Baker.
“Really, if he thinks (the fight) has been on so far, he’s got a whole decade full of us coming,” Baker stated of Morris. “This is just the beginning. They’ve been beating up on us for a long time, from my understanding, so the best thing for him to do is just leave us alone. Just play your game and be quiet.”
The Cardinals went on to win the World Series below La Russa in 2006 and 2011.
“Boy, was I wrong,” Baker stated years later.
5. Mood-music managing
During 2003 spring coaching, Baker informed the Tribune’s Terry Armour he favored each type of music besides nation, and he introduced CDs to camp of Whitney Houston, Tupac, Missy Elliott, Sting, Ludacris, Ja Rule, John Lee Hooker, Morcheeba, St Germain, Santana, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Shaggy, Mutabaruka, Nelly, Uncle Kracker and 50 Cent. One of his songs on replay was Tupac’s “Better Dayz.”
”If I must decelerate on the freeway, I take heed to jazz,” Baker stated. “I listen to certain things if I need to be aggressive, certain things when I need to think.”
Baker famous his spouse, Melissa, turns down his music of their truck.
“That’s the only thing she does that bothers me,” he stated. “I told her, ‘Didn’t you ever see that movie with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker where Tucker tells Jackie Chan, ‘Never touch a black man’s radio’?”
While working for ESPN in the course of the 2007 World Series earlier than beginning his subsequent gig as supervisor of the Cincinnati Reds, Baker bumped into a bunch of Reds followers at a Denver bar and promised them one factor: extra Tupac at Great American Ballpark.
6. Uncle Dusty
Baker’s standing as a participant’s supervisor is well-chronicled, whether or not it’s bringing them meals or turning them on to music.
“As a manager, I love Dusty,” Astros ace Justin Verlander stated in August. “He’s such a good communicator. He’s a very kind person and obviously has a wealth of baseball information. I enjoy talking with him and playing for him.”
I as soon as requested Baker what’s the largest misperception about him. He stated it’s the extensively held idea he’s “too easy” on his gamers and avoids disciplining anybody.
“Go ask my daughter, my wife, my nephews, my players, understand?” he stated. “I’m firm but fair. I was raised strictly. They say you end up being like your parents. Go ask the people who knew me. Go ask my godchildren who gets in their face in my own family structure. If someone is acting bad, it’s ‘I’m going to go tell Uncle Dusty.’ They know I’ll jack ‘em up in a minute.”
7. A clever man’s clever man
When Cubs reliever Antonio Alfonseca was ejected from a Cubs-Cardinals sport for bumping an umpire, Baker known as it “assault with a deadly belly.” He nicknamed the interview room within the bowels of Wrigley Field “The Dungeon.” Upon arriving in Chicago he informed the media, “My name is Dusty, not Messiah.”
After the 2003 season, he spent many of the subsequent three years in Chicago listening to his job standing was in jeopardy. Asked in 2006 why his Cubs gamers couldn’t ignore the distraction of a supervisor always on the new seat, he replied: “I don’t know. Maybe the same reason why you can’t stop writing it.”
Better days would come, and now Baker is again for yet one more shot.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com