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A16 sports
Wednesday 18 OctOber 2023

Old but more than old-school, Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy are

shining as MLB's oldest managers

By KRISTIE RIEKEN have many things in com-
AP Sports Writer mon.
HOUSTON (AP) — When "It's kind of like older pitch-
Texas rookie Evan Carter ers, you know, there's in-
was born in 2002, Hous- stincts, they're there for a
ton Astros manager Dusty reason," he said. "And you
Baker had been manag- can trust your gut. And I
ing in the big leagues for a think a lot of times it works
decade and Rangers skip- out."
per Bruce Bochy was in his After a 19-year playing
eighth season. career, Baker has man-
The ages of MLB manag- aged 4,046 regular-season
ers have been declining in games over 26 seasons with
the last few years, with 22 the Giants, Cubs, Reds, Na-
under 60 at the start of the tionals and Astros. Bochy,
2023 season. But in the AL who played for nine sea-
Championship Series, the sons, also has managed 26
two oldest managers in the seasons, with 4,194 games
majors, 74-year-old Baker with the Padres, Giants and
and 68-year-old Bochy, are Rangers.
leading the way. Baker is the winningest ac-
"I can brag, because I've tive manager with 2,183
made it this far in age," victories and Bochy ranks
Baker said. "(And) it has second with 2,093. But Bo-
something to do with us, chy has more rings — he
but mostly to do with your won the World Series three
team. And the fact that the times with the Giants, while
team trusts us." Baker took home his first
"I didn't look at it as a com- title last season.
petition as far as old versus At 75, Arizona pitching
young, to be honest," said coach Brent Strom is one of
Bochy, whose team leads the oldest on-field staffers
2-0 heading into Game 3 in the majors. He had the
on Wednesday. Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker shakes hands with Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy same job with the Astros
After Baker was fired by before Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Houston. from 2014-2021, working for
the Nationals following a Associated Press Baker for the last two sea-
97-win season in 2017, he wasn't turned off by the cause he was old. wonder why they're hav- sons.
wondered if he'd ever get fact Baker was 71 when "I feel the exact opposite," ing the success they're He's thrilled to see two fel-
another shot. He thought he interviewed to manage he said. "I think that if you're having — I think Bochy's a low senior citizens excelling.
his age — and salary de- the team after A.J. Hinch stuck in your ways, you big part of what's going on "The players today, even
mands commensurate was fired in the wake of the don't last. And these old over there," Dubón said. though they're besieged by
with his experience — was team's sign-stealing scan- managers who have lasted "He treats the players how analytics, (Baker and Bo-
keeping teams away. dal in 2020. In fact, he be- last because they evolve they should be treated. chy) have a bunker men-
"I've said in the past, you lieved his reputation and and they're open-minded Dusty does the same thing. tality of 'been there, done
look around the world, decades in the game were and they grow. I think that's So, it's heaven, in a sense as that,'" Strom said. "And
there's different kinds of just what the Astros needed an important attribute to a player, just because they both of those guys have
discrimination. There's age, to help repair their tattered recognize with Boch. He's treat the players the right been through the wars.
race and there's sometimes reputation. been wonderful. I absolute- way." They've been to the top of
gender. And sometimes "His experience and the ly love working with him." The 29-year-old Dubón the mountain. They've had
intellectual," he said. "So, experience of dealing with Crane, who is a year older said playing for Bochy and some lows, too, but I think
there's all kind of things that pressure and players and a than Bochy, enjoys see- Baker is like being around a the players really appreci-
you can think about. But it's lot of different situations — ing the "old guys" shine this grandfather. ate a guy who has some
no good to worry about." that was very appealing," postseason. "He'll pull your ears and battle scars. Both those
Bochy believes what Baker Crane said. "He's a smart "I think it's great," he said. "It ground you," Dubón joked. guys have them and wear
and some other older man- guy. Once you visited with may have flipped a little bit "But he does it because he them with pride."
agers — including 2021 him a couple of times, you too far the other way, and cares about you and he Bochy isn't concerned
World Series winner Brian realized how bright he now it's kind of back in the wants you to be good." about whether his play-
Snitker in Atlanta — have was, how well he knew the middle and I think that's And Dubón can't get ers think of him as a father
done in recent years might game. And he embraces where it's best for baseball." enough of the old-school or grandfather figure. He's
have helped with his return the analytics, but he also Houston outfielder Mauricio tales from the two. only worried about one
to the dugout after a three- goes old-school. So you've Dubón might be the big- "They know stories that thing.
year absence. got a good blend." gest fan of this matchup sometimes you're like: 'You "Hopefully they know that I
"I guess it's good for the old Rangers GM Chris Young of anyone on either roster were managing that long?' care about them, and we
guys that we're in this situ- said people asked him after playing for both man- And it's pretty crazy hearing all want the same thing,
ation," Bochy said. "But that about hiring an "old- agers. He played 28 games them," he said. and that's to win ball-
might be why I got a call, I school manager" when he for Bochy as a rookie in San At 40, Houston ace Justin games," he said. "Hopefully
don't know, because of the brought Bochy to Texas this Francisco in 2019 and has Verlander was among the I can help put them in that
success of some veteran offseason. He pushed back played for Baker since join- oldest players in the league situation. That's my job. If
managers." on the assertion that Bochy ing the Astros last season. this season. He thinks he they understand that, then
Houston owner Jim Crane was old-school simply be- "It's pretty unreal and no and the old managers I'm good with it."q