In the World Series, Hank Aaron’s Protégé Faces His Former Team
The New York Times
“If Henry is watching down, he will enjoy this World Series because of Dusty, above all,” Bud Selig said of Dusty Baker, who bonded with Aaron in their time together in Atlanta.
HOUSTON — As Ralph Garr remembers it, the kid from Sacramento could have made it big in any sport. The Atlanta Braves chose Johnnie B. Baker Jr., known as Dusty, out of high school in the 26th round of the 1967 draft. They knew he had options, but they also had a secret weapon.
“Dusty could have made the major leagues in football, basketball or baseball, and I don’t think he cared as much about baseball,” said Garr, a third-round draft choice that year. “But Dusty was drafted by the Braves, and Henry Aaron called his mother and said he’d take care of him.”
Aaron was 33 years old and on his way to breaking Babe Ruth’s career home run record. When Aaron did it, with homer No. 715 in 1974, Christine Baker’s son was in the on-deck circle at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. It was a case, you might say, of slugger knows best.
