The Real Reason Why Dusty Baker Wear Surgical Gloves In The Dugout

Dusty Baker is an American baseball manager and former player famous for wearing surgical gloves during MLB games.

He spent 19 seasons in MLB, mostly with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was a two-time All-Star during his career with the Dodgers, collected the first NLCS MVP award in 1977, two Silver Slugger Awards, a Gold Glove Award, and was a two-time winner of the All-Star Game. He also played in three World Series, winning one in 1981.

Despite not having played in Major League Baseball for 36 years, he has intermittently managed professional baseball teams since 1993. However, in Baker’s head, he is still in the field fielding fly balls, ripping doubles into the gap, and swiping bases with his teammates.

Recently he has attracted lots of media attention for his peculiar habit of wearing gloves and masks while managing the Houston Astros from the dugout. This style of presenting himself in the gameday is considered an excellent way of expressing fashion, but his past statements make clear that this is his precaution against covid-19.

Dusty Baker’s Quick Facts

Full Name Johnnie B. Dusty Baker Jr.
Profession MLB Coach
DOB June 15, 1949
Birthplace Riverside, California
Marital Status Married
Wife Melissa Esplana
Number Of Children 2

Why Does Dusty Baker Wear Surgical Gloves?

Since 2020, Baker has worn ‘black gloves’ in the dugout for almost every game. He’s never given a specific explanation, but according to his wife Melissa, it’s a safeguard against COVID-19.

He also wears an Astros mask while watching the game to shield himself from the virus. In one of his interviews, he still wears a show after having cancer 20 years ago and a stroke seven years ago. He prefers to prevent anything from happening beforehand to safeguard himself from any health-related issues.

As a former player, Dusty will always believe that putting up the best effort possible on the field will result in victory. The way he dresses for games demonstrates it. The Houston Astros manager monitors his physical activity by donning blue and orange bracelets on both arms and a Fitbit on his wrist. He has always been a player’s manager, and it has dramatically benefited Houston. It helps explain why he even dresses like an athlete.

Dusty Baker Still Wears Surgical Gloves And Masks As A Precaution Of Covid -19
Source :
sportingnews

Having recovered from prostate cancer in 2002, Baker experienced a mini-stroke in a hospital in 2012. Since then, he is always preventive for his health. He has suffered a lot and doesn’t want to be troubled more in his life health-wise. He is currently in optimal health and guiding the Astros to their glory days. 

In search of his first championship as a manager, he is guiding the Astros to the World Series ten years later. He surpassed Jack McKeon to become the oldest manager in the World Series at 73. The Astros’ victory over the New York Yankees on October 23 sealed their fourth championship in the previous six years.

It was also manager Dusty Baker’s third championship. After winning three postseason games in his first 22 seasons, it was his sixth postseason series win with Houston. He surpassed Jack McKeon to become the oldest manager in the World Series at 73.

Is Dusty Baker Ill?

Baker isn’t suffering from any disease, but he has survived cancer in the past and has also been infected by the coronavirus during the covid-19 pandemic.

Baker’s diagnosis of the disease came as a surprise as he had no idea of being a cancer victim as he participated in a routine checkup of his father. He has survived prostate cancer for 20 years now. However, he still asks the doctor to check a marker for an illness that claims a man every 20 minutes every six months. When Baker discovered he was diagnosed with cancer, he was about to begin his final season as manager of the Giants.

Due to his father’s prostate cancer diagnosis, Baker underwent a routine checkup and was told he had prostate cancer. Baker had surgery in December of that year to have his prostate removed. His three-year-old kid was given the name “Batboy” to help him introduce him to the outside world due to his fears that the disease would come back

Dusty Baker Was Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer in 2002
Source :
cincinnati

 The difficulties with his health didn’t end there. Baker was hospitalized for an abnormal heartbeat and a mini-stroke near the end of the 2012 baseball season. But after that, he took excellent care of himself, and by 2022, he was in good health.

At the time, Johnny Sr., Baker’s late father, had battled prostate cancer for eight years, and the younger Baker had long worked for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He had also lost his mother-in-law to breast cancer a few years previously. So, Baker had already been closely observing his PSA each year as a safety precaution. Therefore, he consistently advocates the issues in bigger stages and makes people aware of the consequences of these severe issues. 

Prostate cancer has affected several Major League players besides Baker. Joe Torre, Larry Lucchino, Dave Lopes, and Derrick Hall are on the list. For this reason, since 1996, Major League Baseball has collaborated with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to raise funds and awareness for a cancer type that affects about 200,000 American men each year.

Dusty Baker’s Family Life

Baker was born on June 15, 1949, in Riverside, California as the eldest child of his parents. He had a strict upbringing, as his father never wanted his son to become an ordinary boy. His father worked as a sheet metal mechanic at Norton Air Force Base for the Air Force.

While growing up, Baker participated in several sports, baseball being his father’s Little League coach and citing basketball as his first love. The young Baker thought of quitting the sport early in his life. To urge the younger Baker to change his mindset, his father reminded him that he did not raise a son who was afraid of responsibilities.

Dusty Baker's Eldest Son, Darren Was Drafted In The 27th Round Of The MLB Draft By The Washington Nationals
Source :
manginphotography

He was very close to his father, being by his side in every significant life situation. He considers his father as one of the primary motivation sources. From his first marriage, Baker has two children: Darren Baker and Natosha. Currently, he is married to his second wife, Melissa. His eldest son, Darren, was chosen by the Washington Nationals, the group his father was in charge of at the time, in the 27th round of the 2017 MLB Draft.

Currently, the Baker family resides in Granite Bay, California. Because of their athletic background, they are considered one of the most famous families in the MLB. However, as of now, Dusty is the most famous individual in the family, but for the time being, the kids are expected to surpass the father’s popularity.

Some FAQs

Is Dusty Baker Ill?

Dusty Baker isn’t ill right now but he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003. He also faced a minor stroke in 2013.

Why Does Dusty Baker Wear Surgical Gloves?

Dusty Baker started surgical gloves as a precaution for covid-19 but he has kept the style as his signature attire in recent days.

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