Dusty Baker

In 2006 Dusty Baker completed his fourteenth season as a Major League Baseball manager with a winning record of 1,162-1,041 and a .527 winning percentage. Dusty finished his career as the Chicago Cubs manager winning 322 games. He is currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

Since 1930 only three other managers have more wins in a Chicago uniform. Baker started his managerial career in 1993 with the San Francisco Giants and set the San Francisco franchise record for most wins. In the Giants franchise history dating back to 1883 Dusty Baker is second only to John McGraw in managerial wins!

Highlights in Baker's career include winning the National League Central Division title in 2003, the National League Pennant in 2002, two National League West titles, a wild card title and has finished first or second in the division nine times in 11 years. He has been to the post season nine times, four as a player, four as a manager and once as a coach.

Baker set the record for winning more games than any other rookie manager in National League history in 1993 and tied a San Francisco franchise record with 103 wins. He was named "Manager of the Year" three times in 1993, 1997, and 2000, and became the first National League manager to earn three BBWAA "Manager of the Year" honors.

Baker won the National League Manager of the Year award two times joining the elite company of Tommy Lasorda and Jim Leyland as the only other managers to win twice as well as being named 2003 Manager of the Year by MLB.com at the "This Year in Baseball Awards." He was also the recipient of the first annual Hank Aaron Diversity Anti-Defamation League Award and winner of the 2004 Martin Luther King Achievement Award. His 840 victories as manager of the Giants rank Baker second in New York/San Francisco Giants franchise history and number one in San Francisco history.

As a player Dusty Baker spent 16 prestigious seasons with Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland. Final career stats include a .278 batting average, 242 home runs and 1,014 runs-batted-in. Clutch statistic: Baker is an MLB leader in career walk-off home runs with 25. He was twice selected to the National League All-Star team, appeared in four National League Championship Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and was selected NLCS MVP after hitting .357 in the Dodger's 4-game series with Philadelphia. Baker went to three World Series with the Dodgers and beat the New York Yankees in 1981 to win the World Championship. Won two Silver Slugger Awards in 1981-82 for offense and a Gold Glove Award for defense in 1981. As a player named to the All-Time Los Angeles Dodger team and as a Manager named to the All-Time San Francisco Giants Team.

Baker's hobbies include hunting and fishing. He speaks fluid Spanish and was an active member of the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 1969 through 1975. He has co-authored You Can Teach Hitting and has produced numerous videos on hitting. Founded the Dusty Baker International Academy of Baseball in Sacramento...now entering its 24th year. Baker is very active in the community and supportive of charitable organizations.