Today's blog post has the newest addition to my on-going 1978 "30 Home Run Club" sub-set, Dusty Baker, whose historic 30th home run clout of 1977 gave the Los Angeles Dodgers four batters reaching the mark that year, the first time ever accomplished by any one team:
Though certainly no slouch at the plate, it would be the only time Baker reached the milestone over his 19-year playing career.
It
was a great year for him, as he hit .291 along with his 30 homers, with
86 runs batted in and 86 runs scored for the potent Dodger line-up that
would help the team reach the World Series.
He’d go on to have a nice 19-year Major League career, hitting 242
homers with 1981 hits, 1013 RBI’s and a .278 average over 7117 at-bats
in 2039 games.
When his playing days were over he coached and eventually became a manager himself in 1993, leading the San Francisco Giants for 10 years, culminating in a National League Championship in 2002 before losing to the Angels in the World Series.
From there he moved on to the Chicago Cubs for four years, then the Cincinnati Reds for another six seasons before taking the helm of the Washington Nationals this season.
Over 21 seasons as a manger he has won over 1700 games and counting, and adding to an already 40-year Major League career!
When his playing days were over he coached and eventually became a manager himself in 1993, leading the San Francisco Giants for 10 years, culminating in a National League Championship in 2002 before losing to the Angels in the World Series.
From there he moved on to the Chicago Cubs for four years, then the Cincinnati Reds for another six seasons before taking the helm of the Washington Nationals this season.
Over 21 seasons as a manger he has won over 1700 games and counting, and adding to an already 40-year Major League career!
