Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recorded his 1,000th career managerial win on July 1, 2026, during a road game in Sacramento.
Speaking at a press conference, Roberts declined to frame the milestone as a personal achievement. "A thousand wins, but I think honestly is that I've built a lot of great relationships and supported a lot of players and so this is for all of them and this is certainly not an individual achievement," he said. Roberts also expressed gratitude toward Clayton Kershaw and the fan base for their support over the years.
Roberts noted that relationship-building has been the foundation of his approach across 11 years of managing. "It starts from building relationships and over 11 years, man, I've built a lot of great relationships with the coaches, with the fan base and obviously the players," he added, describing how leaning into players as men and athletes has been central to his managerial identity from the start.
The win carried a bittersweet element, as Roberts acknowledged that his close friend Mark Prior was managing in the opposing dugout. "One of my best friends is in the other dugout, Mark Prior, so I know he didn't want to be here for a thousand wins," Roberts explained. On the field, he highlighted standout performances including Robo's pitching — whom Roberts praised for his conviction on the mound — along with home runs from Tommy, Miggy, and Freddy. Roberts also noted that Tommy recorded four hits in the game. Roberts' first managerial win came in San Diego, a city he had hoped might also host his 1,000th.
After the final out, Roberts immediately looked over to his wife Tricia, who had traveled from San Diego with friends to share the moment in person. Roberts stated that the team is playing well and intends to keep adding to the win total: "Right now we're playing good baseball."