Former Houston Astros Manager Talks Giants Job
Former Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker realized something toward the end of the 2023 season which turned out to be his last with the Astros.
He hadn’t been home in eight months.
That, more than anything, prompted the long-time manager to retire after the season. He wanted more time with family, and that meant going back to where his managerial career began — San Francisco.
“I went that direction because it’s close to home,” Baker said at an event in Houston on Sunday covered by MLB.com. “My grandchildren are nearby, it’s close to home. Sometime, at some point, you have to go home.”
But it doesn’t mean Baker is done working. In January the Giants announced that Baker would join that organization as a special assistant.
So what does the job entail? Baker said he isn’t sure yet. He still needs to meet with members of the organization and find out what they need from him. He also needs to learn an organization that he last worked for in 2002 when he led the Giants to the World Series.
From his standpoint, simply stepping back entirely and not being involved in baseball seemed out of the question. Working for the Giants and being back home is the best of both worlds.
“I still have something that I can give to the game and this allows me to do that on a part-time basis,” Baker said.
Baker said he’s been in and out of Houston a few times since his retirement. His trip back for the weekend was a bit problematic, as snow in Denver delayed his flight. But he said he was grateful for the February weather in Houston and missing the rain that soaked part of the state earlier this week.
It’s clear that he still holds Houston in high regard.
“This is kind of like my second home.” Baker said.
During his tenure the Astros won three straight AL West titles, reached the ALCS all four seasons and reached the World Series twice, which included a World Series title in 2022.
Baker finished with a 320-226 record with the Astros.
He is one of a handful of managers with more than 2,000 career wins. He finished his career as 2,183-1,862. He’s also one of a few managers that have World Series rings as players and managers.
