World Series-Winning Manager Dusty Baker Is Coming Out Of Retirement
When you think of baseball legends who’ve done it all, you’re probably picturing someone like Dusty Baker. Two-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, and a managerial mastermind who’s steered not one, not two, but five MLB franchises to division titles. Oh, and did we mention he finally got that World Series ring with the Houston Astros in 2022? A résumé like Baker’s deserves to be etched into the Hall of Fame, yet here he is, still building the legend.
Now, at 76, after two years of retirement, Baker is gearing up for his next big adventure—not back in the MLB, but on the world stage. Come 2026, Baker will be taking the helm for Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic. He is trading his advisory gig with the San Francisco Giants for a managing stint that’s as unexpected as it is exciting. How will Team Nicaragua fare?
Why Dusty Baker? Why Now?
“Nicaragua reached out, and I couldn’t say no,” Baker told USA Today. That is a paraphrase, of course, but the sentiment is pure Baker. Ever the storyteller, Baker evokes names like Roberto Clemente and Marcus Garvey when explaining his decision, connecting his managerial comeback with a broader mission to grow baseball in a country where the sport is still finding its feet.
The match feels poetic, especially when Baker says things like, “It should be a great life experience. I hope I can add to theirs, and they can add to mine.” We are talking about the only manager in history to lead five different franchises to division titles. If anyone can inspire a team ranked No. 16 by the World Baseball Softball Confederation to punch above their weight, it’s probably this guy.
Throw in his honesty about missing the camaraderie of the game but not the “verbal dodgeball” of daily MLB life, and you get a sense that he is picking his battles carefully. He is seeing the WBC as the sprint versus the managerial marathon of the regular season. “Now, I just have to brush up on my Spanish,” he quipped.
The Big Picture for Nicaragua’s Baseball Dreams
Baker’s move into international territory is the kind of shake-up Nicaragua could use. Making their WBC debut back in 2023, the team finished 19th. With Baker at the helm and a roster of promising players, who’s to say the underdog narrative can’t go full Hollywood? He reportedly consulted his family extensively before saying yes. His wife Melissa and son Darren (a Washington Nationals prospect himself) weighed in, and the consensus was clear. It was time for a new challenge.
Nicaragua’s General Manager George Santiago and former Manager Marvin Bernard (himself a former MLB player) wasted no time setting Baker up. There is even a press conference lined up in Nicaragua for next month to make it all official. If you’re into insider baseball, the staff is also looking stacked with the likes of Gary Pettis, Jacque Jones, Dan Firova, Bernard, and Randall Simon. From bench coaching to hitting expertise, this team means business.
What It Means For His Legacy
Baker is already eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame, with a résumé that speaks for itself. He’s won 2,183 games, ranking seventh all-time. And while Nicaragua might not dominate the conversation at the next WBC betting table, the manager’s reasons for taking this gig are rooted in something far more meaningful than just wins and losses. Baker himself put it best, saying, “I know it will be a great life experience. I’ve never been part of the WBC, but everyone seems to enjoy it. I will as well. But let’s make it clear. I’m here to win.”
But here’s where the skeptics can relax a little. Despite his foray back into dugout life, Baker made it clear that his days managing an MLB team are firmly in the rearview mirror. “I don’t miss the travel, and I don’t miss the bickering between old school and new school sabermetrics,” Baker explained. Not to mention, at this stage of his life, managing in the WBC offers the perfect balance between fulfilling his love for baseball and avoiding the day-to-day grind of a full MLB season.
A Comeback Worth Watching
Baker is no stranger to big moments, and his return to managing is no exception. While Nicaragua might not be the first team that comes to mind when you think of global baseball powerhouses, with Baker steering the ship, the team’s prospects have never looked brighter.
