It’s easy to have discussions in Major League Baseball about the next crop of Hall of Famers. Albert Pujols is a lock. Justin Verlander? Yeah, he’s already done enough. Max Scherzer? Getting close. Mike Trout? He needs a couple more years, but that’s the right track. But if you turn away from the realm of players, there’s another name who will be etched on a plaque in Cooperstown soon: San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
Bochy, who has won three World Series titles with the Giants and another National League title with the San Diego Padres, reached his latest milestone Wednesday night. He earned career win No. 2,000 when the Giants beat the Boston Red Sox, 11-3.
There are only 10 other managers in history with 2,000 wins.
THERE IT IS!
WIN #2000 in an outstanding, glorious career. Congrats @BruceBochy! pic.twitter.com/3L75Bll3UD
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiantsFans) September 19, 2019
History made
The other managers with 2,000 wins often are known by just one name, or they’re so well-known that’s the case.
Here’s the list: Connie Mack, John McGraw, Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, Sparky Anderson, Bucky Harris, Joe McCarthy, Walter Alston and Leo Durocher.
That’s baseball royalty, and Bochy belongs to it now. Just as he’ll belong to Cooperstown soon.
The 2,000-win club for managers: Mack, McGraw, LaRussa, Cox, Torre, Anderson, Harris, McCarthy, Alston, Durocher — and tonight, Bruce Bochy.
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) September 19, 2019
Understated as always
Bochy, who earlier this season announced he’ll retire when it’s over, was his usual understated self after the milestone victory.
“That number just represents so many people, more than anybody are those players,” he said, according to the Associated Press. Hopefully when they hear that number, they realize what a big part they had to do with it. It doesn’t happen without them.”
Bochy’s players have respected him and even loved him through the years, and this night was no different.
“It was actually pretty relaxed and very Boch-esque. Just gave a little speech and said what he always says — how much he appreciates the guys. And we know that, so that’s why we play so hard for him,” Jeff Samardzija said. “You don’t want to let him down. When you have that respect for a manager, the team shows up every night and is always competing.”
“That number represents so many people, more than anybody are those players.”
– Bruce Bochy on his 2,000th win (🎥: @BJLaflin) pic.twitter.com/uyvf6pSpnT
— KNBR (@KNBR) September 19, 2019
