Dusty Baker, the oldest manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 2023 season, is officially stepping down as the manager of the Houston Astros after informing team owner Jim Crane of his decision on Tuesday afternoon, October 24.

"I'm very grateful and thankful to Jim Crane and the Houston Astros for giving me this opportunity, and to win a championship. I felt like they've been good for me, and I've been good for them," Baker told USA TODAY.

Baker added that he still plans to be involved in the sport in an advisory position with either the Astros or a team closer to his home in Sacramento, California.

"I've still got a lot to offer; baseball has been my life. I have a lifetime of knowledge, much more than those who have never played the game," Baker said.

The 74-year-old is one of the most successful managers in baseball history, accumulating a 2,183-1,862 win-loss record across 26 seasons in five teams.

The crowning achievement of his career came in 2022 when he won his first World Series title as a manager for the Astros.

Baker narrowly missed a second consecutive World Series berth after losing to the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the 2023 ALCS last Monday, October 23.

Storied career for Dusty Baker

Baker became a manager for the first time in 1993, taking over the San Francisco Giants. He spent ten seasons with the Bay Area team until 2002.

In the subsequent years, the two-time MLB All-Star had managerial stints with the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Washington Nationals before joining the Astros in 2020.