Dusty Baker became the first ever MLB manager to lead five different teams to division titles on Thursday, when his Houston Astros took down the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays. It’s been quite a turnaround season for Baker and the Astros, as they finished a mere 29-31 a season ago and failed to clinch an AL West title for the first time since 2016.
The team celebrated twice as hard to make up for last year’s second-place finish, and the 72-year-old Baker joined the fun.
“That was the hardest but greatest year ever for me,” Baker told his players after Thursday’s game. Thank you, guys.”
After his players hosed him with champagne, Baker took the celebration a step further — with an item vital to stepping. Baker drank champagne from a cleat to a rousing reception from his players in an act known as a “shoey.”
The shoey originated in Australia around 20 years ago, according to the New York Times, and it’s become commonplace there since. Rapper Post Malone once drank Bud Light from a fan’s sneaker during his Australian tour while singer Kacey Musgraves downed tequila from a glass slipper while performing in Melbourne.
Sports stars have added the shoey to their celebration repertoire as well, most notably Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo and mixed martial artist TaI Tuivasa. Tuivasa often drinks beer from a sneaker after his matches, though one time he consumed an extra he wasn’t anticipating: fellow MMA fighter Dustin Poirer’s hot sauce.
Baker, a three-time Manager of the Year, won an NL pennant with the San Francisco Giants in 2002. He’s managed 24 MLB seasons, spending 10 with the Giants before leading the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Astros.
The Astros will conclude their regular season with a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. Their AL playoff run begins Oct. 7, and if the team can claim an AL or World Series title, Baker will surely be called upon to complete another shoey.
