Craig Larson Jr.
March 27, 2025
Updated 11:34 a.m. ET
Dusty Baker had an impressive 19-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) before transitioning into coaching and management for nearly 30 years. During his playing days, he was honored as an All-Star on two occasions, received two Silver Slugger Awards, and was awarded a Gold Glove. He participated in three World Series and celebrated a championship win with the Dodgers in 1981.
As a manager, he earned three National League Manager of the Year awards and guided the Astros to a World Series title in 2022. He concluded his career after the 2023 season with a remarkable total of 2,183 wins, placing him seventh on the all-time MLB wins list.
If everything goes according to plan, he could be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2027. It was wonderful to reconnect with Dusty on Opening Day!
Craig: Do you have a favorite opening day memory?
Dusty: I’ve had so many opening day memories. My first opening day was in April 1971 which was the first opening day at Riverfront Stadium. I’m sitting in Tommy Hall’s room the day before. Hall was my homeboy from Riverside, we grew up together, always went fishing together, our dads were close. Tommy had already been up in the big leagues for a few years as pitcher, he was nicknamed “The Blade.” Anyway, we’re sitting there watching television in his room, it’s Bob Barker on The Price is Right, and outside the window there’s this huge tornado that’s across the river, ripping through Kentucky. It was tearing up a trailer park, buildings were getting damaged and then it just went back up into the sky. Do you know that’s the only time I’ve seen a tornado in my entire life? That’s all we were talking about the next day at the ballpark. That was my first opening day.
Craig: That was a short stint with the Reds was it not at that particular time?
Dusty: You know I was only up there for two weeks, and I only got like one or two at bats. The following year, which I consider my “real” opening day, I wasn’t in the lineup. This is the strike year of 1972. Orlando Cepeda hurts his knee early in that game and they move Hank Aaron to first and put me in center field. I got a hit actually my very first at bat (chuckles) but do you know the rest of the way, I think I only got like one more hit for weeks. I went like 1 for 21 with like 15 strikeouts or something. They sat me on the bench, and I didn’t get my next start until May 15th.
Craig: What’s amazing is that even with that tough start, you had a good campaign in 72′
Dusty: Yes, I did. I had a really good series I remember in May against Houston and from that point on, I started playing every day. I batted .321 which was good for third that year. My roommate Ralph Garr hit .325 and Billy Williams led the NL at .333. Who knows, with a better start that year, I might have caught him. I wish I had listened to Hank Aaron who kept telling me to come work out during that strike.
Craig: Baseball has had its share of labor issues over the years, including several strike seasons.
Dusty: True. In 1981, I learned from the 72′ season. There was a strike that season which lasted 50 days. I had the highest average; I played in my first all-star game. Me and strikes had something going on.
Craig: Your adult life has played out in front of a nation for over five decades. It’s weird not seeing you in the dugout, or around the batting cages every day. What are you doing today?
Dusty: After this interview, I’m going to get my haircut at the barber shop. (laughs)
