Astros give Hall of Fame World Series artifacts

HOUSTON – Many experts assume manager Dusty Baker sealed his eventual spot among baseball’s immortals by leading the Astros to the 2022 World Series title. When he gets there, Johnnie B. Baker will already have some artifacts at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

The Astros jersey Baker wore in Game 2 of the World Series was among more than a dozen World Series artifacts that were donated to the Hall of Fame. 

The only manager in history to lead five teams to the postseason donated a three artifacts to the Hall. Baker donated the custom wristbands he wore in Game 6, which the Astros won 4-2 at Minute Maid Park to win the best-of-seven World Series 4-2 over the Phillies He also donated a box of his signature toothpicks.

Baker sends toothpicks, wrist bands to Hall of Fame

The artifacts will be displayed at the museum’s Autumn Glory exhibit. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez gave the Hall of Fame the bat he used to drill the 450-foot, three-run home run to put the Astros ahead for good in Game 6.

Yordan Alvarez seals Astros’ World Series title

Framber Valdez shares Astros title with family

World Series MVP Jeremy Peña makes history

Josh Rawitch, the president of the Baseball Hall of Fame, received most of the donations Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

“The World Series saw many historic performances, from a rare no-hitter to a game-saving catch and some very special moments for players from all over Latin America,” Rawitch said. “We are proud to preserve the history of the Astros’ 2022 World Championship in Cooperstown, where baseball fans will be able to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and relive these great moments for generations to come.”

Pressly sends spikes, signed ball

Ryan Pressly, who gave up only one unearned run over 11 innings in 10 appearances this postseason, donated the spikes he wore in Game 6. He had two saves in the World Series and six overall this postseason. 

Pressly held the Phillies to one hit, a walk and one unearned run over 5 ⅔ innings while appearing in five of the six World Series games.

Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña, the American League Championship Series and World Series MVP, donated the Astros jersey he wore in Game 1 of the Fall Classic. Peña also donated one of the bats he used during the ALCS against the Yankees.

He hit .400 with two doubles while also becoming the first rookie shortstop in baseball history to hit a home run in the World Series.

Astros ace righthander Justin Verlander, the likely AL Cy Young Award winner, gave the Hall the spikes he wore while collecting his first World Series victory in Game 5. 

Astros center fielder Chas McCormick donated the glove he used while making the game-saving catch at the Citizens Bank Park wall in the ninth inning of Game 5.

Framber Valdez adds spikes

Eight time All-Star José Altuve donated the elbow guard he wore in Game 6. All-Star lefty Framber Valdez donated the spikes he wore while striking out nine Phillies in Game 2.

Valdez was 2-0 with an impressive 1.46 ERA in the Fall Classic while holding the Phillies to two runs on six hits with five walks and 18 strikeouts over 12 ⅓ innings. 

The Hall also received one of the balls Cristian Javier threw during the Astros’ combined no-hitter in Game 4. The ball was signed by the four pitchers who threw that no-hitter – Javier, Rafael Montero, Bryan Abreu, Pressly – and the catcher who guided it, Christian Vázquez.

The rosin bag the pitchers used during Game 4’s combined no-hitter also was donated to the Hall. John Smoltz, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015, donated the scorecard he kept while broadcasting Game 4’s no-hitter on FOX. The Phillies also will be represented in the Autumn Glory exhibit. Alec Bohm donated the bat he used to hit the 1,000th home run in World Series history in Game 3 against the Astros.