There is nothing mysterious about Dusty Baker or his legacy. He’s a man of good humor and charm and a successful manager. A good manager.
Yes, we can absolutely sit down and have a lengthy discussion about his in-game tactics, but his track record is undeniable. Wherever he’s managed, he’s been successful. In 22 years as a major league manager, he has a win-loss of 1863-1636 (.532).
By comparison, Bruce Bochy will walk into the Hall of Fame with a sub-.500 record and just about 100 more career wins despite managing three more seasons than Baker.