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sports Thursday 5 May 2022
Mr. 2,000: Baker becomes 12th manager to reach 2,000 wins

By KRISTIE RIEKEN "I'm just doing my job," Bak- so, yeah, it's just a matter
AP Sports Writer er said. "I'm not that proud of perseverance. And I'm
HOUSTON (AP) — Just call of myself yet." here and I'm... where I'm
him Mr. 2,000. He reached 500 wins while supposed to be."
Houston Astros manager with the Giants in a 6-5 Right-hander Lance Mc-
Dusty Baker won his 2,000th victory over the Phillies on Cullers raved about Baker
game Tuesday night, be- June 1, 1999. His 1,000th as a manager and a man
coming the 12th skipper win came on Aug. 30, 2004, and noted the difficult situ-
in major league history to while managing the Cubs ation he walked into when
reach the milestone and to a 5-2 victory over Mon- he was hired in Houston.
the first Black man to do it. treal. Win No. 1,500 came "He helped us through
The benchmark victory on May 9, 2012, with the a tough time as a club-
came in Houston's 4-0 win Reds in a 2-1 triumph over house," McCullers said.
over the Seattle Mariners Milwaukee. "There in 2020 we were
and comes more than 29 "It's an honor to play for navigating through a lot of
years after he collected his somebody who loves the choppy water (and) every-
first win on April 6, 1993, in game and loves his team thing going on post-COVID.
San Francisco's 2-1 victory Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker Jr. celebrates after a base- and is so knowledgeable He's earned our respect.
over St. Louis. ball game against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in about the game of base- It's a big milestone for him
Houston.
"I'm probably one of the Associated Press ball and who has had such tonight. Probably one of
luckiest men to ever walk a storied career," Houston the most exclusive clubs
on this earth," a grinning times with the Dodgers, priced champagne in the third baseman Alex Breg- around."
Baker said minutes after the winning it all as a big-hitting clubhouse after the game. man said. Baker, who needs 41 wins
final out. left fielder in 1981. His wife, Melissa, and a "To be able to learn from to move all the way up to
The 72-year-old Baker said So where does this moment group of about 10 friends him, play for him and just No. 9 on the career list, was
being the first Black man- rank? were at the ballpark. Me- to be able to suit up with asked about cracking the
ager to reach 2,000 wins "Right now it's at the top," lissa Baker smiled as she him every single day is very top 10.
makes the achievement he said. "But I ain't gonna filmed her husband post- special and nobody in here "I'll get there long as I live,"
even more meaningful. stop now." game from the stands as takes that for granted." he said. "That's my thing. As
"It means extra," he said. "It Ten of the 11 other manag- the big screen displayed There was a time Baker long as I live and as long as
means extra to the culture. ers who have accumulat- a picture of him with the wondered if he'd even get you just do your job — and
It means extra to society. ed at least 2,000 wins are in words "2K Wins" in huge a chance to chase this my job is to win — then I'll
It means extra to my race, the Hall of Fame. Bruce Bo- white letters. milestone. After being fired get there."
and it means extra hope- chy (2,003), who isn't yet eli- Baker's career record is by the Nationals following a Baker said the first thing he
fully for others to get an gible, is the only exception. 2,000-1,745 and he's the 97-win season in 2017, Bak- thought of after the final
opportunity (so) I'm not the "This should lead straight only manager in major er didn't get another job out was being there when
last." to the Hall of Fame," Astros league history to take five until 2020 after Houston's Bochy, a good friend,
It's the latest milestone in catcher Martín Maldonado different teams to the post- sign-stealing scandal cost reached 2,000 wins. And
a storied career as a play- said. season. manager A.J. Hinch his job. then a second thought im-
er and manager that has Baker's players presented He collected 840 wins in 10 "If there wasn't a scandal, I mediately popped into his
spanned more than 50 him with a bottle of vin- years with the Giants, 322 in wouldn't be in this position," head.
years. Baker has reached tage Dom Pérignon cham- four seasons with the Cubs, Baker said. "That's the first thing I
the World Series twice as a pagne they signed with a 509 in six years with the "My phone wasn't ringing thought about," he said.
manager, last season with gold marker to commemo- Reds, 192 in two seasons off the hook. Three different "And next thing I thought
the Astros and in 2002 with rate the achievement. with the Nationals and he times I lost jobs and twice I about is that I needed three
the Giants. The team toasted Baker has 137 in his tenure with was winning, and I didn't more to (catch) Bruce."q
As a player, he went three with far more reasonably the Astros. get a call for two years...

Tampa Bay, Seattle to meet in 1st NFL game in Germany

LONDON (AP) — The first regular- also announced, with the Green
season NFL game in Germany will Bay Packers becoming the final
be between the Tampa Bay Buc- team to play in Europe.
caneers and the Seattle Seahawks The Packers will take on the New
at the home of soccer club Bayern York Giants on Oct. 9 at the home
Munich. of Premier League soccer team
The game will take place at the Tottenham, a week after the Min-
Allianz Arena on Nov. 13, the NFL nesota Vikings play the New Or-
said Wednesday. Frankfurt will also leans Saints at the same stadium.
be staging a regular-season game On Oct. 30, Wembley Stadium will
in Germany during the next four host the Denver Broncos against
years. the Jacksonville Jaguars, who
Tampa Bay's Tom Brady could be- played games there for seven
come the first quarterback to start straight seasons until 2019 before
a game in three foreign countries. playing at Tottenham Hotspur Sta-
He won two games with the New dium last year.
England Patriots in London and an- The final international game will be
other in Mexico City. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) is interviewed on the field between the San Francisco 49ers
The schedule for the three NFL after the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, in and the Arizona Cardinals on Nov.
Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021.
games in London next season was Associated Press 21 in Mexico City.q