- published: 22 May 2016
- views: 58
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. (born June 15, 1949) is an American former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. He managed the San Francisco Giants (leading them to the 2002 pennant) and the Chicago Cubs before taking his current job with the Reds.
Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1967 amateur draft out of Del Campo High School near Sacramento, California, Dusty Baker began his professional baseball career as an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves in 1968. After spending sixteen full seasons with the Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, as well short tenures with both the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, Baker finished his career as a player with a .278 batting average, 242 home runs, and 1,013 runs batted in. Furthermore, a few of Baker’s accomplishments as a player include playing for the National League All-Star team in 1981 and 1982, winning three League Championship series in 1977, 1978, and 1981. Baker ultimately won a World Series title in 1981 with the Dodgers. However, Baker played poorly during the series batting .167 with an OBP of .192. When he hit his 30th homer on the last day of the 1977 season, it enabled the Los Angeles Dodgers to become the first team ever to have four 30 home run hitters (Reggie Smith, Ron Cey, and Steve Garvey were the others) in one season. Baker also earned a spot as a footnote in history. On April 8, 1974, Baker was on deck when Hank Aaron hit home run 715 to pass Babe Ruth in career home runs. (He said he hit a double "That nobody saw and nobody cared" in that at-bat.[citation needed]) Baker played his final season in 1986.
Maxwell M. "Max" Scherzer (born July 27, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
After playing for Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, Scherzer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round (1,291st overall) in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft but did not sign and instead attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He was then drafted again in 2006 by the Arizona Diamondbacks, this time in the 1st round as the 11th overall pick. On January 9, 2012 it was announced that Scherzer would be one of six new inductees to the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. While at Mizzou he was Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in 2005. He was Mizzou's first-ever 1st round MLB pick.
He began playing in the Diamondbacks organization in 2007 with the Single-A Visalia Oaks. He was promoted to Double-A Mobile BayBears after three impressive starts for the Oaks. In 2007, Scherzer also played for the Fort Worth Cats, an independent baseball team. During the 2008 offseason, he was named the fourth-best prospect in the Diamondback's organization. After a good start to the 2008 season in Tucson he was called up to the Diamondbacks on April 27, 2008.
Dusty Baker wraps up Nats' series with Marlins
Dusty Baker on series win over Mets
Press Conference: Dusty Baker is introduced as the Nationals new manager
Dusty Baker on Nats' 2-0 loss against Mets
SPORTSCOPIA.COM: Dusty Baker and Derek Lowe go at it
Dusty Baker on Max Scherzer's historic 20-strikeout night
2002 WS Gm5: Snow swoops in to save Baker's son
MLBN Presents: Dusty Baker Makes History with Dodgers
Dusty Baker speaks after the Nats' 4-3 loss in 13 innings
Reds fans react to Dusty Baker's firing