Dusty Baker
The first manager to reach the playoffs and win a division title with five different teams.
Johnnie B "Dusty" Baker Jr., born June 15, 1949, is an American former professional baseball outfielder and manager. While he managed the San Francisco Giants from 1993 to 2002, his career spanned nearly five decades across playing and managing roles with multiple franchises. As a player, he spent eight seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he became the first NLCS MVP in 1977 and helped pioneer the high-five with teammate Glenn Burke. His managerial success includes winning three division titles with five different teams, a unique MLB record.
- Role
- Manager
- Affiliation
- San Francisco Giants (1993–2002)
- Tenure Start
- 1993
- Tenure End
- 2002
- Championships
- 1 World Series Title (as player, 1981; as manager, 2022 with Astros)
- Status
- Retired from managing, joined Giants front office
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Baker's time as a player began in 1968 after being drafted by the Atlanta Braves, a signing that caused a three-year rift with his father until a state-appointed trustee managed Baker's finances. He made history on April 8, 1974, batting behind Hank Aaron when Aaron hit his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth. His tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1976–1983) produced some of baseball's most iconic moments, including the creation of the high-five on October 2, 1977, after Baker hit his 30th home run. That same season, he became the first-ever NLCS MVP, hitting a grand slam and two other home runs to lead the Dodgers past the Phillies. He was part of the 1981 World Series championship team and earned two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove Award during his playing days.
In Their Own Story
In 2022, Baker achieved a historic milestone as the manager of the Houston Astros, winning the World Series. This victory capped a career where he became the first MLB manager to reach the playoffs and win a division title with five different teams: the Giants, Cubs, Reds, Nationals, and Astros. Despite managing the Giants from 1993 to 2002, his 2022 triumph came with Houston, not San Francisco. He ranks seventh in MLB managerial wins and holds the record for the most wins among African-American managers. His managerial path also included stints with the Chicago Cubs (2003–2006), Cincinnati Reds (2008–2013), and Washington Nationals (2016–2017). Following his retirement from managing, he joined the Giants' front office.
Reader's Guide
Fans looking to understand Baker's impact should note his specific achievements with each team. With the San Francisco Giants (1993–2002), he was named NL Manager of the Year three times. His playing career highlights include a .321 batting average in 1972 with the Braves and a .320 average in 1981 with the Dodgers, his career high. He played for the Yaquis de Obregón in the Mexican Pacific League during the offseason of the 1970s, calling it the toughest league he ever played in professionally. His journey from a teenager told by his father not to quit baseball to a Hall of Fame-caliber manager and player is defined by resilience, including overcoming a knee ligament injury that required surgery after the 1976 season.
Did You Know?
- Baker received the nickname "Dusty" because he loved playing in a dirt spot in his backyard.
- He and Glenn Burke invented the high-five on October 2, 1977, after Baker hit his 30th home run of the season.
- Baker was the first manager to reach the playoffs and win a division title with five different teams.
- His father sued to nullify his 1967 signing bonus with the Braves, leading to a state-appointed trustee managing his finances until age 21.
- Baker batted .320 in 1981, a career high, and won both a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award that year.
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