Dusty Baker will at long last be properly and singularly honored at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, 41 years after he was unceremoniously booted from the organization amid a dark cloud of unsubstantiated rumors involving drugs.
His premature departure from Chavez Ravine after the 1983 season was a blessing in disguise, eventually leading the outfielder into a future Hall of Fame managing career that spanned five teams, 2,183 wins and a World Series championship with the Houston Astros in 2022.
"Dusty was the perfect fuel for the start of the Tom Lasorda era," said Mark Langill, Dodgers historian. "He was the kind of energetic veteran that a rookie manager really needed. He became a clubhouse leader as the Dodgers overcame the Big Red Machine and restored their place atop the National League West."
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