Motivated by late father's words, Baker chases elusive crown

HOUSTON (AP) — Dusty Baker, then manager of the San Francisco Giants, had just left the stadium after a crushing loss to the Anaheim Angels in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series when he met up with his father.

Johnnie B. Baker Sr. didn’t mince words.

“He goes: ‘Man, after the way (you) lost that one I don’t know if you’ll ever win another one,” Baker recalled Sunday.

Nineteen years after that conversation and more than a decade since his dad's passing, Baker finally has a chance to prove wrong the father he loved so dearly.

He'll get the opportunity starting Tuesday night when he leads the Houston Astros against the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

The 72-year-old Baker has thought of that conversation often over the years. And since the Astros dispatched the Red Sox to reach their third Fall Classic in five years Friday night, his father’s words have grown even louder in his head.

“So that’s been my motivation,” Baker said.

This is Baker’s second trip to the Series as a manager. As a player, he went three times with the Dodgers, winning it all as a big-hitting left fielder in 1981.

In an illustrious career as a star player and manager spanning more than 50 years, winning a World Series as a manager is virtually the only box left open for Baker.

“I know,” he said. “So I just (need to) go ahead and check it.”

Added Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, the original Mr. October who now works as a special adviser to Astros owner Jim Crane: “I do think it would make a wonderful addition to his resume.”

Houston star shortstop Carlos Correa, who becomes a free agent at season’s end, is intent on helping Baker add this accomplishment to the back of his baseball card.

“He’s been around a long time and still doesn’t have one,” Correa...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Motivated-by-late-father-s-words-Baker-chases-16560956.php