|
Dusty Baker is a three-time Manager of the Year (1993, 1997, 2000), who became the first National League Manager and second skipper to earn a third BBWAA Manager of the Year honor. He has managed 1,394 games (third most among Giants managers), out of which he has captured 745 victories, also ranking him third on the franchise list of managers. Baker has won two NL West titles and finished in the top two spots in the division seven times in his nine-year tenure.
Entering the 2002 campaign, Dusty Baker's .534 career winning percentage (745-649) ranks third among nine current Major League headmen with at least 1,300 games managed. He has coached for the NL club at the All-Star game three times.
In his rookie managerial campaign, Baker was named BBWAA NL Manager of the Year and AP Manager of the Year. In addition, he came within one game of winning the NL West and won more games than any other rookie manager in NL history.
Prior to being named Giants' skipper, Baker served five seasons as a coach under previous manager Roger Craig and also served as first base coach in 1988 and as hitting instructor from 1989-92.
Dusty Baker donates his time to the Sacramento Children's Home for Abused Youths, as well as the American Sports Institute. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Giants Community Fund and plays a vital role in the Junior Giants Program. Baker was the key contributor to the 2000 Giants Cancer Awareness Day.
He participated in the Special Olympics fundraising events during the 1998-99 off-season. Additionally, he has served on the Board of Directors for Project Open Hand, which delivers food to homebound AIDS patients in San Francisco and Alameda counties. Baker supports the National Muscular Dystrophy Association and has been honored as a member of the Muscle Team for helping MDA and other charities.
He was awarded the Sports Image Award for baseball (non-profit foundation's motto is 'True champions are servants of humanity'), and the Babe Ruth Baseball League Positive Image Award for the Bay Area.
Dusty Baker attended American River College in Sacramento. He was named to the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and inducted into the California Black Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. In 1998, he received the Silver Plumes 'City Ambassador' Award for Where-San Francisco magazine, a special presentation given to an individual who largely represents and epitomizes the city's reputation of greatness.
Baker had a prestigious playing career, spending nearly 16 full seasons with the Braves, Dodgers, Giants, and Athletics. He finished his career with a .278 average, 242 home runs, and 1,013 RBIs. He was selected as the NLCS MVP in 1977 and won a World Championship with the Dodgers in 1981.
He married Melissa on Nov. 27, 1994 and has two children, Matosha and Darren.
|
