RON WASHINGTON…NOT DUSTY BAKER
Thank God.
At least one of these fine gentlemen…
FINALLY GOT IT DONE.
AT LAST.
These guys are serious.
To describe them as ‘baseball lifers,’ doesn’t seem to do them justice.
Ron Washington and Dusty Baker have a combined total of 31 years of major league playing service between them.
31 years.
Baker played in 2,039 games; Washington 564.
And that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.
Because after their playing days were done, they reached loftier heights.
Harder to do for Baker, perhaps, because his career was quite full, but he did it.
And certainly, so did Washington.
Washington has worked in professional baseball for over 50 years, since he signed with the Kansas City Royals as an eighteen-year-old prospect.
But for all his time playing, coaching, managing and coaching again — and for the thousands of games he’s been a part of — bookend Game 6s, 10 years apart, represent the pivotal moments of his post-playing career.
One of them was a crushing loss in which a single strike, on two separate occasions, would have made him a World Series champion manager.
The other took place last Tuesday night (November 2) in a sweet victory that finally sealed the deal and made it happen.
As the third base and infield coach of the Atlanta Braves, Ron Washington — at long last — has a World Series champion’s ring.
Call it, ‘Game 6 Redemption.’
Marveled a clearly relieved Washington, “I’ve got two rings at home that say American League champions…Now I’m going to have one that says world champion.
All the years I put into this game, I finally got one.”
Managing the Texas Rangers from 2007 through 2014, Washington led them to two AL pennants.
But Texas lost the 2010 World Series to the San Francisco Giants, and the 2011 Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
It was the Series against the Cardinals that still haunts the Rangers franchise — and Washington — because of what happened in Game 6.
Texas led by two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in St. Louis.
With two strikes and two men on, the Cards’ David Freese hit a long, but catchable ball over the head of right fielder Nelson Cruz.
Cruz was not playing deep enough and misjudged the flight of the ball.
It hit the wall for a triple.
Game tied.
Extra innings.
In the top of the tenth, Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer, putting the Rangers ahead.
For the second time in two innings, the Rangers found themselves one strike away from a Champagne bubble bath, goggles and all.
Not to be.
The resilient Cardinals clawed back again when Lance Berkman singled home the second run to tie it up.
The omnipresent Freese — MVP of the Series and the preceding NLCS — homered in the 11th to win it, and the Cards won Game 7 too.
Tuesday’s Game 6 offered no such drama, which was fine with Washington.
“This is very special for all of us,” he said.
“But, yes, especially for me, too, because we did come so close in 2011.
I’m a world champion now, and it doesn’t matter if I did it as a coach or a manager.
I’m a world champion.”
The beauty of Ron Washington is his ability to engender deep devotion from his players, which has long been his hallmark.
Passion and enthusiasm for his craft exude, and that, coupled with his uncanny knack for making his ballplayers laugh and enjoy their work, ensures a legion of disciples.
He is considered one of the best infield coaches in the game.
So much so that Eric Chavez, Oakland’s 6-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman, gave Washington his 2004 award, adorned with the inscription, “Wash, not without you.”
Atlanta’s GM, Alex Anthopoulos, echoed the sentiment.
Citing Washington’s keen insight, Anthopoulos acknowledged that no defensive tactical decisions are made, or even considered, without his input and ultimate approval.
“He has meant everything,” volunteered Anthopoulos.
“His passion, love and preparation are second to none.
He always believed, and deserves this as much as anyone in the organization.”
Ten years later, a broad smile can now crease Washington’s face.
Maybe Baker can one day, find himself that kind of happy, before all is said and done.
[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in November 2021.]
