By Mardeio Cannon | OBSERVER Columnist
Dusty Baker has carved out an incredibly successful career in Major League Baseball both as a player and a manager. It’s his success as a manager, however, that will earn him a call from Cooperstown to enter the Hall of Fame in a couple of years. Baker, who lives in Sacramento with his wife, agreed to sit down with me this last week at his winery in West Sacramento to get some reflections on his remarkable career:
Q: After your family moved to Sacramento from Riverside, did you experience any racism at Del Campo High in Carmichael?
A: Yes, we did! We moved here when I was a junior in high school and as I recall my brother and myself were the only two Black kids in high school in Carmichael at that time. It was a good thing that I was a good athlete in football and basketball; however, my younger brothers and sisters had to deal with more racism than me because I was a junior when I arrived. I told my sister to walk on the other side of the street to avoid trouble; however, sometimes I had to punch a guy in the face and my dad told me what Jackie Robinson would do. I said “Dad, I’m not Jackie Robinson.”
Q: What was your experience like your first time in the major leagues?
A: The call-up to the big leagues was the biggest thrill of my life. However, I was drafted by the Atlanta Braves, and I didn’t want to play in the South. However, being drafted by the Atlanta Braves turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me.
Q: You were on deck when Hank Aaron hit his historic home run to pass Babe Ruth’s record. How was the experience of playing with Aaron as he approached the record?
A: Yeah, what he went through should have been the happiest days of his life and he was most miserable. However, he used that misery to increase his concentration and desire. What I learned from my mentor Hank Aaron was that pain, controversy and wrong treatment can propel you to heights that you never thought possible.
Q: You got traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. What was it like playing for Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda?
A: Tommy Lasorda was one of the most positive men I have ever met. When I was playing for the Braves, he would tell me that I should be playing for the Dodgers. So, I played my best against the Dodgers trying to get on the team so I could see my childhood hero Tommy Davis who wore No. 12 on the Dodgers. When I met Tommy Davis, I found out that he was a better person than he was a ballplayer. I wound up wearing No. 12 for the rest of my career. I also got to meet and hang out with Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Don Newcomb and especially Junior Gilliam, who used to tell me about Jackie Robinson.
Q: When did you get the notion of being a manager?
A: I never did want to be a major league manager. However, when Al Campanis made his derogatory remarks that Blacks didn’t have the mental capacity to become a major league manager, baseball came looking for some guys that could fulfill that role. I just happened to be at the right place and time.
Al Rosen, the general manager of the San Francisco Giants, sent his assistant to ask me if I would be interested in a job and I wasn’t interested because most people leave unhappy and I didn’t want a token job of coaching at first base, which were the only jobs given to Black coaches. My dad told me to pray about accepting a job in Major League Baseball. So, I go on a trip with my brother Victor and my daughter. I was standing in line checking in and a guy taps me on the shoulder and it was Bob Lurie, the owner of the S.F. Giants, and he says you need to come and join the Giants. I called my dad and said “Dad, did you think that was a sign?” He said “Boy, the sign taps you on the shoulder before you even said a prayer!”
Q: You managed the Giants to 840 wins from 1993-2002 and a trip to the World Series, led the Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds to the playoffs, and of course led the Houston Astros in 2022 to a World Series ring. When you get the call to enter the Hall of Fame, what team’s cap will you wear for your speech?
A: This is not something that I think about! I have been disappointed many times, so I guard my emotions and my expectations. I don’t know – maybe my wife will pick one out.
Q: You have a senior consultant role with the Giants, and you also own Baker Family Winery. What led you to pursue the wine business?
A: Number one, I have two acres of grapes on my property, and I was on the advisory board of Mondavi Winery. I was going to build a pond on the property so I could catch and feed my fish. However, after a couple of years, I planted some grapes. Hank Aaron was one of our key investors and that’s why we came up with the wine named Hank 755. We are excited about the future of Baker Family Wines.
Q: What do you do to relax?
A: I had a health issue 12 years ago, so I like swimming around the house to stay in shape. I also go into the Colusa area to hunt and I like fishing in Montana and Washington, and I also spend quality time on trips with my son in Mexico and Hawaii. God has been good to me, and I am thankful.