Dusty Baker Jr., the current manager of the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball and a former player, achieved prominence during his 19-season MLB career, notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Baker made history by winning the 2022 World Series with the Astros, becoming the oldest manager to secure a championship in the four major North American sports.
His managerial accomplishments include ranking 9th in MLB managerial wins, and he holds the record for the most wins among African American managers. Notably, Baker also won a World Series as a player with the Dodgers in 1981.
Dusty Baker holds the distinction of being one of just four African Americans to manage a team in the World Series. The first to achieve this milestone was Cito Gaston, guiding the Toronto Blue Jays to championships in 1992 and 1993.
Baker followed as the second African American manager to lead a team to the World Series. Subsequently, Ron Washington and Dave Roberts have joined this exclusive group by managing the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively, with Roberts securing a championship in 2020.
Dusty Baker Biography
Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker Jr., born on June 15, 1949, is an American baseball manager and former player currently managing the Houston Astros in MLB. His notable 19-season playing career included a significant tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
As a Dodger, Baker achieved two All-Star selections, won two Silver Slugger Awards, and earned a Gold Glove Award. He made history as the first NLCS MVP during the 1977 National League Championship Series and participated in three World Series, winning in 1981.
Transitioning from player to manager, Dusty Baker held managerial roles with the San Francisco Giants (1993–2002), Chicago Cubs (2003–2006), Cincinnati Reds (2008–2013), and Washington Nationals (2016–2017). Since 2020, he has served as the manager of the Houston Astros.
Dusty Baker made history by winning the 2022 World Series with the Astros, becoming the oldest manager to secure a championship in the four major North American sports.
He holds the distinction of being the first MLB manager to reach the playoffs and win a division title with five different teams, accomplishing these feats with each team he managed. Currently ranking ninth in MLB managerial wins, Baker also holds the record for the most wins among African American managers.
As one of only four African Americans to manage a World Series team, Baker follows in the footsteps of Cito Gaston, Ron Washington, and Dave Roberts.
Notably, Dusty Baker left as the all-time winningest manager in the San Francisco era of Giants history, a record later surpassed by Bruce Bochy with World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
Additionally, Baker achieved a unique milestone in 2021 by guiding the Astros to the American League West division title, making him the first manager in the major leagues to lead five different clubs to division titles.
Dusty Baker Career
In the playoffs, the Astros faced the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series (ALDS), led by Tony La Russa. Dusty Baker had a history with La Russa, having faced him as a manager over 200 times.
Their careers intertwined for more than five decades, meeting frequently during their time in the National League Central – La Russa with the St. Louis Cardinals and Baker with the Cubs and Reds.
Dusty Baker secured his first World Series title in the playoffs, marking 40 years since winning one as a player. This achievement set a record for the longest gap between World Series championships by a player/manager in MLB history.
Notably, Baker became the seventh person in MLB history to win a World Series as both a player (1981) and a manager. Additionally, he became the third African-American manager to win a World Series, following Cito Gaston (1992 and 1993) and Dave Roberts (2020).
Dusty Baker took on roles as an ESPN analyst during the 2006 MLB postseason and the 2007 season. In 2015, he joined TBS as a studio analyst for the final two weeks of their regular season coverage and the National League playoffs.
Beyond baseball, Baker is a member of the National Advisory Board for Positive Coaching Alliance, focusing on fostering positive, character-building experiences for student-athletes.
Adding to his diverse ventures, Dusty Baker is the owner of Baker Family Wines, a winery he shares with owner and winemaker Chik Brenneman. Recognizing his contributions, he was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2018, Baker returned to the Giants organization, taking on the role of Special Advisor to the CEO.
Dusty Baker Salary
As of the available information, Dusty Baker’s current one-year deal with the Astros is approximately $1.5 million for the season.
Dusty Baker’s Net Worth
The retired American baseball player Dusty Baker net worth is $20 million.
How Much is Dusty Baker’s New Contract?
Dusty Baker’s contract is for two years, with $4 million guaranteed and incentives that could potentially bring the total value up to an additional $3 million. Following his World Series win, the Houston Astros manager agreed to a one-year extension, committing to remain with the team for the upcoming season.
How Long is Dusty Baker’s Contract?
The Astros signed manager Dusty Baker to another one-year contract for the 2023 season. However, the terms of the deal were not disclosed, as announced by Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane in the team’s statement.
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