Dusty Baker

[Cowtipper]

Does being a "good player" and a "good manager" equal a Hall of Famer? Because that's what Dusty Baker was - he was "good" as a player and manager, but not far-and-away amazing at either.

Baker played 18 years in the big leagues, hitting .278 with 242 home runs, 137 stolen bases and 1,013 runs. An All-Star twice, he won a Gold Glove once and the Silver Slugger award twice as well. Statistically, he isn't similar to any Hall of Famers - he is similar to the following, however: Gary Matthews, George Hendrick, Ken Singleton, Bobby Murcer, Cy Williams, Jeff Conine, George Scott, Chet Lemon, Amos Otis and Felipe Alou.

In 1992, Baker received four votes for the Hall of Fame.

As a manager, Baker has put together 1265-1153 record through June, 2009 - a .523 winning percentage - winning one pennant. He has also been voted the NL Manager of the Year three times.

So, how do you feel about Dusty Baker? Do you think he should be in the Hall of Fame?

[SABR Matt]

Nope. Baker was a fair manager but he was handed a lot of good cards to get the winning seasons he got...he does not have a history of turning losing franchises into winners like Piniella, Cox, Torre, Martin etc. And his player creds are unimpressive.

[Ace Venom]

Absolutely not. Baker has had a good run at manager, but very few managers deserve to be Hall of Fame managers. Baker is not one of them.

[NineWorldSeries]

How many Cubs and Reds fans would answer "yes" to this question right now?

[bambambaseball]

Dusty Baker's career + managerial career is just enough for me to say yes to him.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

Baker was not a good manager. take it from a lifetime Giants fan

he benefitted from getting Bonds as a free agent and rode him to some good seasons, but he was not a strong manager

His strengths were limited, like building good morale or a nice atmosphere, but he was poor at choosing bench players, he made a ex-baseball guy (Sonny Jackson) his third base coach who coached like a deer in the headlights, so you broke into the ML and he was on your team back then , big deal.

He was a very poor game manager and made some easily second guessed decisions in the most important games of his managerial career.

I would not want Baker to manage my kids little league team, let alone think he qualifies as a H of Fame manager

As a player he isnt even close

No on the player (3 out of 10)

No on the manager (4 out of 10)

you dont hit .300 as a switch hitter if you hit .150 left handed and .150 right handed

and you dont make the hall of fame on mediocre playing and managing careers

No combined (3.5 out of 10),

[KCGHOST]

Absolutely not. Baker has had a good run at manager, but very few managers deserve to be Hall of Fame managers. Baker is not one of them.

Couldn't agree more.

[joshfan]

Dusty Baker is a so so mgr and a decent player
Give him Bonds Kent and Aurellio and he's a genius
He blew the Cubs arms up and is not deserving of HOF status