Dusty Baker's career as a Major League Baseball manager began in 1993 in San Francisco. He also played for the Giants in the mid-'80s.
Baker coached major league teams for 26 years, but left the dugout after the Houston Astros lost Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers in October. withdrew from.
Baker is now scheduled to return to the Bay Area for his third stint with the Giants organization. The 74-year-old will serve as special advisor for baseball operations, handling both baseball and business aspects, the team announced.
Baker said returning to San Francisco feels like coming home.
“I've enjoyed my time in many different places, but I'm glad to be back home,” the former World Series champion and manager said in a statement. He “looks forward to providing guidance to the organization and helping the Giants return to the top in a very tough division.”
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San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker argues with an umpire during a game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, circa 1995. (Focus on Sports/Getty Images)
Baker spent the past four seasons as the Astros' manager, leading the club to a World Series title in 2022.
He managed the Giants from 1993 to 2002, and during a break from management in 2018 and 2019, he returned to work as an advisor to CEO Larry Baer.
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“We are very excited to welcome Dusty to the Giants organization,” Baer said. “Dusty's experience, knowledge and success over his 50 years in baseball will be invaluable to the success and continued development of our baseball operations efforts on and off the field.”
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker looks on during the national anthem before Game 6 of the ALCS vs. the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2023 in Houston. (Daniel Shiley/MLB Photo via Getty Images)
Baker remains beloved in the Bay Area, and there's a good chance this will be his final stop in what will almost certainly be a Hall of Fame career.
“I was fortunate to get to know Dusty as we overlapped within our organizations in 2019, and I'm excited to work together again,” said Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi. . “We had the opportunity to meet in person and discuss our shared vision of bringing championship baseball back to San Francisco. I learned something new every time I interacted with him and learned more about his experience and commitment to the game. I look forward to relying on perspective.”
Baker is a three-time National League Manager of the Year and has a career record of 2,183 wins and 1,862 games played on the bench with the Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Astros.
Dusty Baker of the Houston Astros signs autographs for fans before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium on March 6, 2023 in Jupiter, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
He left the Giants on difficult terms after losing to the then-Anaheim Angels in the 2002 World Series and was subsequently named captain of the Cubs.
Still, this latest job is a natural fit. Baker repaired his relationships in San Francisco over time, and the Giants offered him the flexibility to attend his son Darren's games at the University of California, Berkeley — and still do so in Granite Bay, just outside of Sacramento. He owns a house where he loves to garden and grow grapes. his own wine.
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“I'm excited to be on the same team with Dusty again,” said new Giants manager Bob Melvin. “He has been a great friend and mentor to me over the years. Best of all, I don't have to compete with him anymore. Bake, welcome home.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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