Dusty Baker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dusty Baker
Baker with the San Francisco Giants in 1991
Outfielder / Manager
Born: (1949-06-15) June 15, 1949 (age 76) Riverside, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
September 7, 1968, for the Atlanta Braves
Last appearance
October 4, 1986, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average	.278
Home runs	242
Runs batted in	1,013
Managerial record	2,183–1,862
Winning %	.540
Teams
As player Atlanta Braves (1968–1975) Los Angeles Dodgers (1976–1983) San Francisco Giants (1984) Oakland Athletics (1985–1986) As manager San Francisco Giants (1993–2002) Chicago Cubs (2003–2006) Cincinnati Reds (2008–2013) Washington Nationals (2016–2017) Houston Astros (2020–2023) As coach San Francisco Giants (1988–1992)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (1981, 1982) 2× World Series champion (1981, 2022) NLCS MVP (1977) Gold Glove Award (1981) 2× Silver Slugger Award (1980, 1981) 3× NL Manager of the Year (1993, 1997, 2000)
Military career Service/branch United States Marine Corps Years of service 1968–1974 Rank Lance Corporal Unit United States Marine Corps Reserve

Johnnie B "Dusty" Baker Jr. (born June 15, 1949) is a retired American professional baseball player and manager. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 19 seasons. He played for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Oakland Athletics.

During his time with the Dodgers, Dusty was chosen for the All-Star Game twice. He also won two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove Award. He was the first player to win the NLCS MVP award in 1977. He played in three World Series with the Dodgers and was part of the 1981 championship team.

After his playing career, Baker became a manager. He led the Giants (1993–2002), Chicago Cubs (2003–2006), Cincinnati Reds (2008–2013), Washington Nationals (2016–2017), and Houston Astros (2020–2023). He won the NL Manager of the Year award three times with the Giants. In 2022, he won the 2022 World Series with the Astros. At 73, he became the oldest manager to win a championship in major North American sports.

Dusty Baker was also the first MLB manager to reach the playoffs and win a division title with five different teams. He ranks seventh in MLB managerial wins and has the most wins among African-American managers. After retiring as a manager, Baker joined the Giants' front office.

Early Life and Baseball Dreams

Dusty Baker grew up in Riverside, California. He was the oldest of five children. His mother gave him the nickname "Dusty" because he loved playing in a dirt spot in their backyard. His father worked for the Air Force.

Dusty played many sports when he was young. Basketball was his first favorite, but he also played baseball. His father coached his Little League team. When Dusty wanted to quit baseball, his father encouraged him to keep going. In 1963, when Dusty was 14, his family moved to Sacramento.

Dusty was a big fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. His hero was Tommy Davis. Later, when Bobby Bonds joined the San Francisco Giants in 1968, Dusty became a Giants fan.

Dusty was great at baseball, basketball, football, and track at Del Campo High School in Sacramento, California. He was even inducted into his high school's Hall of Fame in 2010. He was offered a basketball scholarship from Santa Clara University. His father wanted him to go to college.

Professional Playing Career

Becoming a Pro Player

The Atlanta Braves drafted Dusty Baker in 1967. On June 19, Hank Aaron helped convince Dusty to sign with the team. Aaron promised Dusty and his mother that he would look after Dusty. Dusty signed, even though his father disagreed with the contract. This caused a disagreement with his father for a few years.

Dusty started playing baseball in the minor leagues as an outfielder. He played in the Texas League and other leagues. He also served in the Marine Corps Reserve for six years as a motor transport mechanic.

Playing for the Atlanta Braves (1968–1975)

Baker playing for the Braves in 1974

Dusty made his first MLB appearance on September 7, 1968, for the Atlanta Braves. He played in a few games that year. For the next three seasons, he mostly played in the minor leagues. He batted over .300 for the Triple-A Richmond Braves in 1970 and 1971.

In 1972, Dusty finally made the Braves' main roster. He played in 127 games and batted .321, which was the third-best in the National League. He hit 17 home runs and had 76 runs batted in (RBI). The next year, he played in a career-high 159 games. He batted .288 with 21 home runs and 99 RBIs.

On April 8, 1974, Dusty was on deck when Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run. This historic hit broke Babe Ruth's record. After the 1975 season, Dusty wanted to be traded. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in November 1975.

Time with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1976–1983)

Dusty Baker had many great achievements with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played for them for eight seasons. In 1976, he had a knee injury that needed surgery. But he bounced back strong in 1977. He played in 153 games, batting .291 with 30 home runs and 86 RBIs.

Dusty Baker is also linked to the first-ever high five. This happened with his Dodgers teammate Glenn Burke on October 2, 1977. Baker had just hit his 30th home run. Burke raised his hand, and Baker smacked it.

In 1977, the Dodgers won their division. Dusty played a key role in the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit a grand slam in Game 2. He also hit a two-run home run in Game 4, helping the Dodgers win the National League pennant. He was named the first-ever NLCS MVP. The Dodgers went to the 1977 World Series but lost to the New York Yankees.

In 1978, the Dodgers again won the pennant but lost to the Yankees in the 1978 World Series. In 1980, Dusty batted .294 with 29 home runs and 97 RBIs. He won a Silver Slugger Award.

The 1981 season was shorter due to a strike. Dusty played in 103 games and batted a career-high .320. He was named to his first All-Star Game. He also won a Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove Award. The Dodgers won their division. They beat the Houston Astros and Montreal Expos to win their third pennant in four years. In the 1981 World Series, the Dodgers faced the Yankees again. This time, the Dodgers won in six games, giving Dusty his first World Series title as a player.

In 1982, Dusty batted .300 and made his second All-Star Game. He finished his Dodgers career in 1983.

Playing for the San Francisco Giants (1984)

After leaving the Dodgers, Dusty signed with the San Francisco Giants for the 1984 season. He played 100 games and batted .292.

Playing for the Oakland Athletics (1985–1986)

Dusty was traded to the Oakland Athletics in 1985. He played outfield and sometimes first base. In 1985, he played 111 games and hit 14 home runs. He played his final season in 1986, appearing in 83 games. He retired after the season.

Dusty Baker played in 2,039 games over 19 years. He had 1,981 hits, 242 home runs, and 1,013 runs batted in. He was known for chewing toothpicks during games. He said it helped him avoid using chewing tobacco, which he used as a player.

Coaching Career Begins

San Francisco Giants Coach (1988–1992)

In 1987, Dusty Baker was working as a stockbroker. Then, he got a call about a possible job with the San Francisco Giants. He met with Giants general manager Al Rosen. Rosen wanted Dusty to be a first base coach. Dusty's goal was to become a manager within five years.

Dusty started as a first base coach for the Giants in 1988. For the next four years (1989–1992), he was the hitting coach. In 1992, he also managed a team in the Arizona Fall League.

Managerial Career Highlights

San Francisco Giants Manager (1993–2002)

In December 1992, Dusty Baker was hired to manage the San Francisco Giants. He became the seventh African-American manager in Major League Baseball. In his first year, the Giants acquired star player Barry Bonds. Dusty won the NL Manager of the Year award. He led the team to an amazing 103 wins and 59 losses. This was a huge improvement from their previous season. However, they just missed the playoffs that year.

His Giants teams won division titles in 1997 and 2000. Dusty won Manager of the Year honors in both of those years too. He was the second person to win the award three times. He was known as a "player's manager" because he got along well with his players. He even learned Spanish to connect with his players better.

In 2002, the Giants won 95 games and made the playoffs. They beat the Atlanta Braves in the 2002 National League Division Series. Then, they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2002 National League Championship Series. This sent them to the 2002 World Series against the Anaheim Angels. The Giants were one win away from the championship. However, the Angels made a big comeback in Game 6 and won the series in Game 7.

Even with this success, Dusty's relationship with the Giants' owner became difficult. His contract was not renewed after the 2002 season. He finished his time with the Giants with 840 wins and 715 losses. Dusty is one of only four African Americans to manage a World Series team.

Chicago Cubs Manager (2003–2006)

After leaving the Giants, Dusty Baker was hired by the Chicago Cubs in November 2002. He signed a four-year deal.

In his first season with the Cubs in 2003, Dusty made a big impact. With strong pitchers and hitters like Sammy Sosa and Moisés Alou, the Cubs won their first division title in 14 years. They won their first playoff series since 1908 by beating the Atlanta Braves. However, their hopes for a World Series title ended in the 2003 National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins. In Game 6, the Cubs were close to winning, but a famous foul ball incident and some key mistakes allowed the Marlins to score many runs and win the game. The Marlins then won Game 7 and went on to win the World Series.

In 2004, the Cubs missed the playoffs by a few games. On August 30, Dusty won his 1,000th game as a manager. In 2005 and 2006, the Cubs struggled with many player injuries. Some people criticized Dusty for how he used his pitchers, suggesting it led to injuries. However, players like Kerry Wood and Mark Prior said they did not blame Baker for their injuries.

After the 2006 season, the Cubs decided not to renew Dusty's contract. He finished his time with the Cubs with 322 wins and 326 losses.

Cincinnati Reds Manager (2008–2013)

On October 13, 2007, Dusty Baker was hired as manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He was the first African-American manager in Reds history. In 2008 and 2009, the Reds had losing records.

But in 2010, the Reds had a great season. They won the National League Central title, making their first playoff appearance in 15 years. However, they were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. Dusty signed a two-year contract extension with the Reds.

In 2012, the Reds won 97 games and won their division again. Dusty had some health issues during this time. In the 2012 National League Division Series, the Reds faced the San Francisco Giants. The Reds won the first two games in San Francisco. But the Giants made a comeback, winning three straight games in Cincinnati to win the series. This was a tough loss for the Reds.

In 2013, the Reds won 90 games but finished third in their division. They made the Wild Card game but lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dusty was fired by the Reds three days after the game. He finished his time with the Reds with 509 wins and 463 losses.

Washington Nationals Manager (2016–2017)

After a two-year break, Dusty Baker was named the new manager for the Washington Nationals on November 3, 2015. He was the only African-American manager in Major League Baseball at the time.

The Nationals won the NL East in Dusty's first season with 95 wins. However, they lost in the NLDS in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The next season, Dusty led the Nationals to another NL East Championship. But again, their postseason ended early. They lost to the Chicago Cubs in five games in the 2017 NLDS. After the 2017 season, the Nationals announced that Dusty Baker would not return as manager.

Houston Astros Manager (2020–2023)

In January 2020, Dusty Baker became the manager of the Houston Astros. He was over 70 years old, making him one of the oldest managers hired. This was his first time managing a team in the American League.

2020 Season

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Astros made the playoffs. Dusty became the first manager to lead five different teams to the postseason. The Astros won their first two playoff series. They reached the American League Championship Series (ALCS). They came back from being down 3-0 in the series but lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in seven games.

2021 Season

On April 22, 2021, Dusty earned his 1,900th win as a manager. He became the 14th manager to reach this milestone. He continued to climb the all-time wins list.

The Astros won the American League West division in 2021. Dusty became the first manager to lead five different clubs to division titles. The Astros beat the Chicago White Sox in the playoffs. Then, they faced the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. The Astros won the series, and Dusty became the ninth manager in MLB history to win a pennant in both leagues. The Astros went to the 2021 World Series but lost to the Atlanta Braves.

2022 Season

In November 2021, Dusty agreed to manage the Astros for the 2022 season. On May 3, 2022, Dusty earned his 2,000th win as manager. He became the 12th manager and first African-American manager to reach this milestone. He also managed the American League team in the MLB All-Star Game.

The Astros won their division again in 2022. They finished with 106 wins, a new high for a team managed by Dusty. In the 2022 postseason, the Astros swept the Seattle Mariners in the 2022 American League Division Series. Then, they swept the New York Yankees in the 2022 American League Championship Series. This was Dusty's third pennant as a manager.

The World Series was a historic moment for Dusty. On November 5, the Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the 2022 World Series. Dusty won his second World Series title, and his first as a manager. At 73, he became the oldest manager to win the World Series. He also became the third African-American manager to win a World Series.

2023 Season

In 2023, Dusty continued to climb the all-time wins list. He passed Joe McCarthy and Bucky Harris in wins. He managed the American League team in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. The Astros clinched the AL West on the final day of the season. This made Dusty the first Astros manager to lead a team to the playoffs for four years in a row.

The Astros beat the Minnesota Twins in the 2023 American League Division Series. This gave Dusty his 29th postseason win as Astros manager, making him the winningest postseason manager in Astros history. They then faced the Texas Rangers in the ALCS. The Rangers won the series. Dusty Baker announced his retirement on October 25, 2023.

Executive Career

San Francisco Giants (2024–present)

On January 18, 2024, Dusty Baker returned to the Giants organization. He joined their front office as a Special Advisor to Baseball Operations.

Managerial Record

Baseball Achievements

• First manager in MLB history to lead five different teams to division titles.
• Ninth manager to win both an AL pennant and an NL pennant.
• 12th manager and first African-American manager with 2,000 victories.
• First African-American manager with 50 postseason victories.
• Oldest manager to appear in, and win, the World Series (in 2022).

Broadcasting Career

Dusty Baker has also worked as a baseball analyst on TV. He was an analyst for ESPN in 2006 and 2007. In 2015, he joined TBS as a studio analyst for their regular season and playoff coverage.

Personal Life

Darren Baker playing for the Harrisburg Senators in 2022

Dusty Baker was a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1969 to 1975. Dusty's son, Darren Baker, is also a baseball player. During the 2002 World Series, when Darren was a young batboy, he was famously rescued by player J. T. Snow from being run over at home plate.

In 2017, Darren was drafted by the Washington Nationals, the team his father managed. He chose to play college baseball first. In 2021, he was drafted again by the Nationals and signed with them. On the same day Dusty won his 2,000th game, his son Darren scored the winning run for his High-A team.

Dusty Baker and his family live in Granite Bay, California. Dusty has faced some health issues, including an irregular heartbeat. He is also a member of the National Advisory Board for Positive Coaching Alliance. This group helps young athletes have positive sports experiences. Dusty also owns Baker Family Wines. In 2015, he was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Dusty Baker's Place in Baseball History

Dusty Baker has been part of many memorable moments in baseball history. People often compare him to the character Forrest Gump because he seems to be present for so many important events. Here are some examples:

• Dusty was on deck when Hank Aaron hit his record 715th career home run.
• He was in the dugout when Rick Monday saved an American flag from being burned on the field in 1976.
• He was on the opposing team when Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series.
• Dusty was the final out of Nolan Ryan's fifth no-hitter in 1981.
• He was a coach for the Giants during the 1989 World Series when the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake struck.
• He was manager of the Giants when Barry Bonds set the single-season home run record in 2001.
• Dusty was manager of the Cubs during the Steve Bartman incident in the 2003 National League Championship Series.
• He was manager for two of the three no-hitters thrown in the postseason. He was the losing manager when Roy Halladay threw one in 2010. He was the winning manager when the Astros threw one in the 2022 World Series.
• Dusty was manager of the Nationals when Max Scherzer tied the single-game strikeout record in 2016. He had also managed Kerry Wood, another pitcher who holds that record.

Images for kids

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  Dusty Baker meeting with Cecil Cooper of the Houston Astros in 2006.

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  Dusty Baker during his time with the Chicago Cubs.

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  Dusty Baker wearing his new Reds jersey in 2007.

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  Baker managing the Nationals in 2017.

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  Baker with the Houston Astros in 2020.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball All-Star Game managers
• List of Major League Baseball career assists as a left fielder leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career games played as a left fielder leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a left fielder leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
• List of Major League Baseball managerial wins and winning percentage leaders