Has Astros manager Dusty Baker traveled 1.8 million miles for baseball? Exploring viral social media claim

Fact Check: Has Astros manager Dusty Baker traveled 1.8 million miles for baseball

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has been around the game for a long time. He made his MLB debut as a player in 1968 with the Atlanta Braves and has been around the game ever since.

From his playing days to being a manager, it has been revealed that Baker has traveled 1.8 million miles, according to Baseball Savant. This makes him one of the most-traveled non-pilots in the world.

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That is a number that could keep growing larger. Dusty Baker is managing the Astros on a one-year deal. Houston could look at extending the longtime skipper if he has another successful season.

The Astros hold the top spot in the American League West with a record of 85-68. They have a half-game lead on the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, who are fighting for the final Wild card spot.

Dusty Baker has been magnificent in Houston

Dusty Baker had a mess on his hands when he took over as the Houston Astros manager in 2020. He took over for the team after manager A.J. Hinch was fired amid the team's sign-stealing scandal.

Every away stadium they went to, Baker heard the loud boos from all the fans. However, he managed that team to the American League Championship, where the Tampa Bay Rays beat them.

During the 2021 season, the Astros picked up where they left off. They had a stellar season, making it to the World Series. Unfortunately, they lost the World Series to the Atlanta Braves.

Last season, Baker brought the team over the hump. They won the World Series, beating the Philadelphia Phillies. Baker was the third African-American manager to hoist a World Series trophy.

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Very few players or managers have seen the success that Baker has. He will go down as one of the greatest to ever do it after his time is up.

About the author

Jared "Bloomy" Bloom is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda and a former college baseball pitcher from Illinois, who just graduated with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology.

A writer with over 3 years of experience, Jared is consistently more concerned with quality than quantity, thoroughly checking multiple sources of information, and prides himself in being knowledgeable not just about MLB, but the game of baseball in general. He loves breaking down plays and game-changing moments, as well as looking closer into players' statistics.

Jared is a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and one of his earliest memories is seeing his great-grandfather, a huge Sox fan, in his rocking chair watching a game. Jared started playing from the age of 5 with his grandfather coaching him early on.

Jared loved Tim Lincecum for his quirky delivery and looked up to him as a role model when playing. His current favorite is Phillies star Bryce Harper, an exciting player who doesn't let injuries hold him back. Jared's favorite sports moment is Mark Buehrle's opening day between-the-legs glove flip to first base in 2010.

When he is not watching or writing about baseball, Jared can be found racing BMX at his local Rockford BMX track or coaching his local youth travel baseball team.

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Edited by Jared "Bloomy" Bloom