1976 Topps Traded #28T - Dusty Baker

• Dusty Baker came to the Dodgers before the 1976 season after four pretty good years with the Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers gave up several players to get him, but the trade worked out quite well for the Dodgers in the long run.
• Baker didn't do much for the Dodgers in 1976 (.242 with 4 HR in 112 games) as he played with torn cartilage in his left knee.
• Dusty was a big part of the Dodgers' offense from 1977-1983 before finishing his career in San Francisco (1984) and Oakland (1985-1986).
• If you have a nomination for 1976 Topps Card of the Year, please leave a comment on the linked entry. After the traded series is profiled we'll do it. :)

.

1976 Topps #28 - Dusty Baker

His name is "Johnnie B. Baker." What does the "B" stand for?

Dusty Baker was a pretty good 20+ homer guy for the Braves and Dodgers in the 70s and early 80s. Dusty was traded from the Braves before the 1976 season with Ed Goodson to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Lee Lacy, Tom Paciorek, Jerry Royster and Jimmy Wynn. He had what was probably his worst season in '76 (.242, 4 HR, 39 RBI), but he recovered in 1977 to bat .291 with 30 homers.

Dusty played in the All-Star Game in 1981 and 1982 and finished in the top ten in MVP voting in 1980 and 1981. He left the Dodgers after the 1983 season and moved to the rival SF Giants as a free agent. Dusty played for the Giants in '84 and then was traded to the A's, where he finished his career in 1986.

Dusty went on to be a coach and a manager. He managed the Giants from 1993-2002, earning three Manager of the Year awards during that time. He managed the Cubs from 2003-2006 and has managed the Reds from 2007-present. He underwent successful prostate cancer surgery in 2001.

I remember hearing fans give Dusty crap during spring training in the mid 80s about the drug allegations against him. I couldn't find much about it online though. Apparently the allegations were enough to shorten his career. Here is a good biography-type article about him.