With no Black players in World Series, Astros manager Dusty Baker is 'ashamed of the game'
HOUSTON — Dusty Baker hears it all, tilts his head back and sighs in disbelief.
Come on, do people believe actually believe that he needs to win a World Series to get into the Hall of Fame?
Really?
The man has led a record five teams to 12 postseason berths, three World Series appearances, and has won more games than all but eight managers in history.
The Houston Astros do not need to win the World Series title over the Philadelphia Phillies beginning Friday night at Minute Maid Park for Baker to be inducted into Cooperstown.
Baker, 73, who plans to manage the Astros at least one more season, has bigger and better things on his mind, but certainly understands what a title will represent.
Win the World Series, and he becomes only the third Black manager to win a World Series in baseball history.
He would be recognized as one of the greatest managers in the history of the game. He would become the oldest manager in history to achieve the feat.
Win the World Series, and it will be engraved on his plaque in Cooperstown.
“The Hall of Fame, that’s not my motivation for any of this,’’ Baker tells USA TODAY Sports. “That’s not my motivation. Most of my life, I haven’t gotten what I deserve, so I don’t expect the Hall of Fame. I don’t expect nothing.
“I know I’ve done my best. And I know more than anybody how America is. I really do. I’m not bitter about it. I just know how it is, man.’’
This is the
first World Series since 1950 there will not be a single U.S.-born Black player on the field.
“Nah, don’t tell me that,’’ Baker says. “That’s terrible for the state of the game. Wow! Terrible. I’m ashamed of the game.
“Quote me. I am ashamed of the game.’’
Baker was publicly asked about it a day later in a press conference Thursday, and was diplomatic, but still perturbed.
“Well, I don't think that's something that baseball should really be proud of,’’ Baker says. “It looks bad. It lets people know that it didn't take a year, or even a decade to get to this point.
“But there is help on the way. You can tell by the number of African-American No. 1 draft choices (four of the first five picks in 2022). The academies are producing players. So hopefully in the near future we won't have to talk about this anymore or even be in this situation.’’
Maybe, winning a World Series will help raise awareness too. But then again, Cito Gaston won back-to-back World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays, and was never again hired as a manager by another organization. Baker and Dave Roberts are the only two current Black managers. Chicago White Sox vice president Ken Williams is the only Black head of baseball operations.
“I’d love to see Dusty win, really, I’d love to see them win four and really make a statement,’’ says former 20-game winner Dave Stewart, Baker’s former teammate with the Los Angeles Dodgers. “But make a difference? I don’t see that. I don’t see anything changing. You know how this song is going to end out, brother.’’
Winning a World Series may not change baseball's demographics but Baker would at last be recognized as one of the greatest managers in baseball history.
This is a team that didn’t have a left-handed reliever in the bullpen this year. They didn’t have a reliable left-handed hitter off the bench. Veteran starter Lance McCullers pitched in only eight games. Slugger Yordan Alvarez missed 29 games. Left fielder Michael Brantley underwent season-ending shoulder surgery and has been out since June. They didn’t have a regular center fielder for most of the season.
Yet, the Astros still won 106 games, producing the best record in the American League. They swept the Seattle Mariners in the first round, winning the three games by a total of four runs, including an 18-inning game. They swept the New York Yankees in four games, with only one game by more than two runs.
