Dusty Baker

Lore & Background

Baker was named NL Manager of the Year three times with the Giants and won the 2022 World Series with the Astros. He was also the first MLB manager to reach the playoffs and win a division title with five different teams, having accomplished both feats with each team he managed.

In Their Own Story

The humidity hung heavy over Enron Field on a sweltering October afternoon in 2005. Dusty Baker stood in the dugout, his cap pulled low, watching his team take the field for Game 6 of the NLCS. The air crackled with tension; one win away from their first pennant, the weight of decades of near-misses rested on these shoulders. He turned to a nervous young pitcher, offering a calm smile and a simple nod that said everything: 'We've got this.' In that moment, the noise of the crowd faded, leaving only the rhythm of the game and the quiet confidence of a man who had seen it all before.

Reader's Guide

Baker ranks seventh in MLB managerial wins and has the most wins among African-American managers. Following his retirement as a manager, Baker joined the Giants' front office.

Did You Know?

• Baker was the first NLCS MVP, awarded for his performance during the 1977 National League Championship Series.
• He played for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Oakland Athletics during his 19-season MLB playing career.
• Baker earned the nickname 'Dusty' from his mother because of his propensity for playing in a dirt spot in the backyard.