Dusty Baker was a legendary baseball player. He spent more than half a century in the sport as a player, coach, and manager.
He is known for his leadership, passion and success, as well as his involvement in some of the most memorable moments in baseball history.
He is the first MLB manager to reach the playoffs and win championships with five different teams and is the oldest manager to win championships in all four major North American sports.
He is also the seventh-winningest manager of all time and the most successful among African-American managers.
File
- Full name: Johnnie B. Baker Jr.
- Nickname: Dusty
- Date of birth: June 15, 1949
- Age: 74 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Riverside, California, USA
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Former baseball player and current manager
- Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
- Parents: Johnnie B. Sr. and Christine Baker
- Siblings: Four younger siblings
- Spouse: Melissa Baker (married 1994)
- Children: Two sons, Darren and Natosha
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $20 million
Early life and education
Dusty Baker, now 74, was born on June 15, 1949, in Riverside, California, United States. He is the eldest of five children of Johnnie B. Sr. and Christine Baker, including Victor Baker.
His father was a sheet metal technician for the Air Force and later a salesman for Sears, and his mother was a professor.
His parents were strict and disciplinarian but also supportive and understanding. Baker grew up in a large backyard, where he got his nickname from his mother, who called him “Dust” because he likes to play in the dirt.
He enjoyed baseball as a child but also played other sports such as basketball, soccer and track.
He was a talented athlete. He attended Del Campo High School in Sacramento, where he and his brother were the only black students.
He was an All-City, All-County, and All-State selection in baseball and basketball, and also received honors in football and track. He graduated in 1967 with a scholarship to play basketball at Santa Clara University.
Personal life
Dusty Baker has been married to Melissa Baker since 1994. They have two sons, Darren and Natosha.
Darren was born in 1999 and followed in his father’s footsteps as a baseball player. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2017 but chose to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he played second base. Natosha was born in 2003 and is a student at Stanford University.
Baker also has a daughter, Nichele, from a previous marriage. Baker is also a devout Christian who credits his faith with helping him overcome many challenges in his life, such as cancer, strokes and heart problems.
He is also a music lover, playing guitar and collecting vinyl records. His musical tastes range from jazz and blues to rock and rap.
He was friends with many musicians, such as Carlos Santana, John Lee Hooker and Bob Dylan. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening and reading.
He has written three books: You Can Teach Hitting (1994), Dusty Baker’s Hitting Handbook (2004), And Kiss the Sky: My Weekend in Monterey for the Greatest Rock Concert Ever (2017).
Career
Dusty Baker began his professional baseball career in 1967 when the Atlanta Braves drafted him in the 26th round.
He made his MLB debut in 1968 at the age of 19 and played for the Braves until 1975. He was a solid hitter and fast runner but also struggled with injuries and inconsistent performance.
He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1976, where he became a star. He played for the Dodgers until 1983, and was part of the famous outfield trio with Reggie Smith and Rick Monday.
He was a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner, and the first MVP of the NLCS in 1977.
He also won the World Series with the Dodgers in 1981 and participated in the historic home run celebration with Hank Aaron in 1974 and invented the high-five with Glenn Burke in 1977.
Baker played for the San Francisco Giants in 1984 and the Oakland Athletics from 1985 to 1986 before retiring.
He had a career batting average of .278, with 242 home runs and 1,013 runs batted in. He also served in the Marine Corps Reserves from 1968 to 1974, reaching the rank of corporal.
Baker began coaching in 1988 when he joined the San Francisco Giants as a hitting coach. He worked under Roger Craig and helped the Giants reach the 1989 World Series.
He became the Giants’ manager in 1993, leading the team to three NL West titles and an NL pennant during his 10-year tenure.
He was named NL Coach of the Year three times in 1993, 1997 and 2000. He is also known for developing young talents such as Barry Bonds, Matt Williams and Jeff Kent.
He left the Giants after the 2002 season when they lost to the Anaheim Angels in the World Series final seven games.
Baker then managed the Chicago Cubs from 2003 to 2006, the Cincinnati Reds from 2008 to 2013, the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2017, and the Houston Astros from 2020 to 2023.
He led these teams to the playoffs at least once, winning championships with the Cubs, Reds and Astros.
He also became the first MLB manager to win 90 games with five different teams and the first to win a league championship with five teams.
He won his second World Series with the Astros in 2022, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. He is the oldest manager to win a championship in all four major North American sports at age 73.
Baker has a managerial record of 2,183 wins and 1,862 losses, with a winning percentage of .540. He ranks seventh in MLB history in managerial wins and first among African-American managers.
He is also one of the most respected and admired figures in the game, known for his positive attitude, inspirational skills, and deep understanding of baseball.
Argumentative
Dusty Baker has faced much controversy and criticism during his career, mainly for his handling of pitchers and his comments on various topics.
Several of his former pitchers, such as Robb Nen, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, suffered arm injuries or lost form after playing under Baker.
Baker was accused of overusing or misusing water bottles and ignoring signs of fatigue or discomfort.
Baker has defended his decisions, saying he always consults with pitchers and coaches, and that injuries are part of the game.
Baker has also made some controversial comments on issues such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. For example, in 2003, he said that black and Latino players were better suited to playing in hot weather than white players because they had more “pigment“in their skin.
He later apologized for his comments, saying he did not mean to offend anyone. In 2016, he said he did not believe there were any gay players in baseball because he had never seen one.
He also said he did not want his son to be gay because he would face discrimination and harassment.
He later clarified his comments, saying he was not homophobic and that he would love his son regardless of his sexual orientation.
In 2020, he said he didn’t think women should be allowed to manage or coach in MLB because they would be under too much pressure and scrutiny.
He also said he didn’t think women could handle the physical demands of the job, such as batting practice or hitting baseball.
He later apologized for his remarks, saying he was not sexist and respected women in baseball.
Social media
- Instagram Name: None
- Twitter Username: None
Net worth
Dusty Baker has an estimated net worth of $20 million.
He earned his wealth from his long and successful career as an MLB player, coach, and manager.
