The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to four games on Tuesday night and helped manager Dave Roberts make MLB history while reaching a milestone.
Roberts became the 69th manager in MLB history to 1,000 career wins, and the fourth Dodgers skipper to achieve the feat. What separates Roberts from his peers was getting to that point in the fewest decisions as a manager at 1,606 games.
The record previously belonged to Cap Anson, who needed 1,641 games to reach 1,000 wins. During the Live Ball Era (since 1920), New York Yankees manager Joe McCarthy held the record by notching his 1,000th career win in 1,648 games.
Dave Roberts reacts to 1,000 wins
Players and coaches congratulated Roberts after the final out was recorded at Sutter Health Park, which was a change from his efforts to keep attention on the team. Roberts’ wife, Tricia, was on hand to witness her husband put himself in an elite group.
“It’s great. She came up from San Diego and some friends came, and that was great. Honestly, I just have a lot of gratitude,” Roberts told Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA. “We’re up here in Sacramento, and there’s so many Dodger fans here.
“You hear, ‘Let’s go Dodgers’ all night long and for them to be here to see us win, and for me to celebrate 1,000, it’s a lot. The fans supported me through a lot of stuff, the front office, the coaches, and most importantly, the players. Thousand wins, but honestly, I’ve built a lot of great relationships and poured into a lot of players, so this is for all of them. This is certainly not an individual achievement.”
Dodgers players have regularly highlighted Roberts’ demeanor and care factor among the traits that stand out behind his role as manager.
“It’s everything,” Roberts said of taking an interest in players’ lives off the field. “Obviously everyone is chasing wins and championships, certainly when you put this uniform on, but I think it starts from building relationships. Over 11 years, I’ve built a lot of great relationships with the coaches, with the fanbase, and obviously the players.
“It’s been a lot of fun. What a ride, and we’ll keep adding on.”
At one point there was the potential for Roberts to get to 1,000 wins while the Dodgers were playing the San Diego Padres this past weekend. They also start a four-game against the Padres on Thursday.
“It’s a little bittersweet,” Roberts admitted. “One of my best friends is in the other dugout, Mark Kotsay. I know he didn’t want to be here for 1,000 wins. I would’ve loved to have done it in San Diego, but 1,000 wins that’s still a good body of work.”
Walter Alston (2,040), Tommy Lasorda (1,599), Wilbert Robinson (1,375) and Roberts are the only managers in Dodgers franchise history to win 1,000 games. Alston achieved the feat in 1965 and Lasorda in 1988, which also were years the Dodgers won the World Series.
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