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sports Diahuebs 5 Mei 2022

Mr. 2,000: Baker becomes 12th manager to reach 2,000 wins

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

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

(AP) — The first regular- with the Green Bay Packers
season NFL game in Ger- becoming the final team to
many will be between the play in Europe.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and the Seattle Seahawks The Packers will take on the
at the home of soccer club New York Giants on Oct. 9 at
Bayern Munich. the home of Premier League
soccer team Tottenham, a
The game will take place at week after the Minnesota Vi-
the Allianz Arena on Nov. kings play the New Orleans
13, the NFL said Wednesday. Saints at the same stadium.
Frankfurt will also be stag-
ing a regular-season game On Oct. 30, Wembley Sta-
in Germany during the next dium will host the Denver
four years. Broncos against the Jack-
sonville Jaguars, who played
Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady games there for seven straight
could become the first quar- seasons until 2019 before
terback to start a game in playing at Tottenham Hot-
three foreign countries. He spur Stadium last year.
won two games with the New
England Patriots in London The final international game
and another in Mexico City. will be between the San
Francisco 49ers and the Ari-
The schedule for the three zona Cardinals on Nov. 21 in
NFL games in London next Mexico City.
season was also announced,