By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
Dave Roberts became the fastest manager in Major League Baseball history to reach 1,000 career victories after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Athletics 9-3 at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.
Roberts, now in his 11th season managing the Dodgers, reached the milestone in just 1,606 games, all but one with Los Angeles. He became the 69th manager in MLB history to record 1,000 wins, surpassing the previous record held by Cap Anson, who reached the mark in 1,641 games in 1893.
The achievement was celebrated by the Dodger-heavy crowd of 12,387, as players toasted their manager with champagne following the victory.
“I know people say the word surreal a lot, but it is surreal,” Roberts said after returning to his office following the postgame celebration. “Because you take a step back and look at the body of work, it’s been a fun ride. It really has.”
The milestone adds another accomplishment to an already remarkable career. Since taking over the Dodgers in 2016, Roberts has guided the franchise to nine National League West titles, five National League pennants and three World Series championships.
His success places him among the greatest managers in Dodgers history. Only Walter Alston has won more World Series titles with the franchise, while Alston, Tommy Lasorda and Wilbert Robinson have recorded more managerial victories. Roberts, however, owns MLB’s highest winning percentage among managers with at least 1,000 games, entering the milestone at .622.
Players credit Roberts for creating a culture that extends beyond wins and losses.
“He’s a special person,” shortstop Mookie Betts said before the game. “He is my manager, but I just don’t really see him that way. I see him more as like a baseball dad, to be honest. He’s always there. He’s so much more than just a manager.”
Ironically, Roberts’ managerial career began with a loss. He served as interim manager for the San Diego Padres on June 15, 2015, after Bud Black was dismissed. The Padres fell 9-1 to the Athletics before Pat Murphy took over as interim manager for the remainder of the season.
Roberts was hired by Los Angeles before the 2016 season and immediately made an impact, earning National League Manager of the Year honors after leading the Dodgers to a 91-71 record.
Looking back on his journey, Roberts admitted he never imagined reaching the historic milestone.
“One thousand didn’t even seem on my radar because that’s a long time of consistent winning, let alone keeping a job for 11 years,” Roberts said. “To put your head down and look back and go, ‘Oh my God, I’m here,’ it’s mind-blowing.”
With three World Series championships, five National League pennants and now 1,000 managerial victories, Roberts has cemented his place among baseball’s elite managers and strengthened what many believe is a future Hall of Fame résumé.