Astros Are World Series Champs

Yordan Alvarez hit a three run homer in the sixth inning and Astros pitchers held the Phillies to just three hits as Houston beat Philadelphia 4-1 at Minute Maid Park on November 5th in Game 6 of the 2022 World Series. The Astros took the series 4-2, winning their second World Series in six years (2017, 2022). They also reached the World Series as American League champs in 2019 and 2021, losing to Washington in ’19 and Atlanta last year.

Seventy three year old Dusty Baker won his first World Series as manager in a 25 year big league managerial career. He won the National League pennant managing the San Francisco Giants in 2002 before losing to the then Anaheim Angels in the World Series, and managed the Astros to the American League pennant last year. How long has Baker been in the majors? He made his big league debut in 1968, appearing in six games with the Atlanta Braves. His playing career with four major league clubs lasted through the 1986 season. He appeared in three World Series as a player, all with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1977, 1978, and 1981). All three were against the New York Yankees, and the Dodgers won in ’81.

On the other end of the age spectrum, Houston’s 25 year old rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena was named Most Valuable Player for the World Series. He hit .400 (10 for 25) with one homer and three RBIs, 15 total bases and a 1.023 OPS. Pena is the first rookie position player to win the World Series MVP, capping a great post season in which he also won the MVP award for the American League Championship Series. In 13 post season games, Pena hit .345 with four homers, eight RBIs, five doubles and 12 runs scored.

The National League champion Phillies fell two games short of a World Series title, but completed a remarkable season in which they were the lowest seed in the National League with an 87-75 record. Philadelphia beat the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta, and San Diego Padres to win the National League Pennant.