WASHINGTON • Dusty Baker is the new manager of the Washington Nationals, meaning Major League Baseball avoids what would have been its first season since 1988 with zero black skippers.
The Nationals announced Baker's hiring on Tuesday, nearly a month after firing Matt Williams, whose lack of prior experience turned out to be a problem as the club missed the playoffs.
In the 66-year-old Baker, the Nationals get someone who already has worked 20 seasons as a manager in the majors and whose 1,671-1,504 career record — a .526 winning percentage — includes the second-most victories of any active manager.