Giants name Dusty Baker special advisor to the CEO
The San Francisco Giants today announced that former manager Dusty Baker will return to the organization as a Special Advisor to the CEO and will perform duties both on the baseball and business side.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dusty back to the organization," said Giants President and CEO Laurence M. Baer. "In addition to being one of the most beloved Giants alumni, Dusty brings a wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience to this position and I know his contributions will be felt far and wide throughout our organization."
The three-time National League Manager of the Year returns to the Giants organization after serving the previous two seasons as the manager of the Washington Nationals where he posted a combined 192-132 (.593) record. Baker, 68, currently stands as the 14th-winningest manager in Major League history. Overall, he managed 22 seasons and posted a 1,863-1,636 (.532) managerial record with the San Francisco Giants (1993-2002), Chicago Cubs (2003-06), Cincinnati Reds (2008-13) and Washington Nationals (2016-17). Baker produced nine Postseason teams, including seven division championships (San Francisco, 1997 and 2000; Chicago, 2003; Cincinnati, 2010 and 2012; Washington, 2016 and 2017), and two wild card appearances (San Francisco, 2002; Cincinnati, 2013).
Baker's coaching career started as a first base coach for the San Francisco Giants in 1988 and he then spent the following four years (1989-92) as the hitting coach before was named manager in 1993. In his very first year as Giants manager, he won the 1993 NL Manager of the Year award, leading the team to a 103-59 record, which was the second-best record in baseball that year. His Giants teams went on to win division titles in 1997 and 2000 and the National League pennant in 2002. His 840 wins with San Francisco ranks third-most in team history behind current skipper Bruce Bochy (902) and Hall of Famer John McGraw (2,583).
A career .278 hitter, Baker played 19 seasons in the big leagues and compiled 242 home runs, 320 doubles, 23 triples, and 1,031 RBI. He finished in the top 10 in MVP voting twice (1980 and 1981), and from 1980-82 he hit .303, averaging 20 home runs, 20 doubles and 78 RBI a year while earning two Silver Slugger Awards, a Gold Glove, and two All-Star selections.
Baker currently resides in Sacramento, CA with his wife, Melissa, and has two children, Natosha and Darren. He is a 1967 graduate of Del Campo High School (Carmichael, CA) and he attended American River College (Sacramento, CA). Baker was inducted into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 and the California Black Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2015, he was enshrined in the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.