Astros manager Dusty Baker name drops Bill Cosby before World Series Game 1

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker received plenty of well wishes before Game 1 of the World Series, including a strange endorsement from Bill Cosby.

Dusty Baker is still in search of his first World Series title, and he’s favored to win one with Houston. The Astros take on the underdog Phillies in Game 1 on Friday night.

Before first pitch, however, Baker discussed his friends in various walks of life who wished him well. Those friends included Snoop Dog, and oddly enough, Bill Cosby.

Prior to Baker’s comments, there was hardly any reason to root against him, minus the obvious Astros haters dating back to the sign-stealing scandal. Baker is one of the better men in all of baseball, and could become the third black manager to win the World Series, joining Dave Roberts and Cito Gaston.

Astros: Why did Dusty Baker name drop Bill Cosby?

It’s unclear exactly why Dusty Baker mentioned Bill Cosby, or why the two were corresponding prior to one of the biggest series of Baker’s managerial career. Considering the two ‘friends’ would be a stretch on my end, as we don’t know the full story.

Cosby has been accused by approximately 60 women of sexual crimes including rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. He was found guilty of some of those crimes in 2018, as he plead guilty to three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby was sentenced to 3-10 years in prison before that decision was vacated.

Cosby may not be in prison due to that decision, but it’s still an odd choice by Baker to boast about a message received by a man many consider a sexual predator.