This Ex-Dodger Not Bleeding Blue : Dusty Baker Finds a New Home at First Base for the A’s

Mention the great Dodger teams of the 1970s and the names that usually come to mind are Steve Garvey, Ron Cey and Davey Lopes.

Those infielders, however, aren’t the only members of what has become the Dodger Foreign Legion, which has proven there is life beyond Chavez Ravine.

Former Dodgers Dusty Baker, Tommy John and Don Sutton have all found refuge with the Oakland A’s, which historically has been sort of a halfway house for major leaguers that other teams have given up on.

All three players are earning their keep with the Bay Area club as John will start against the Angels Sunday, Sutton is approaching 300 career victories and Baker bats third in the A’s lineup with a respectable .302 average.

The continued success of the Dodger Foreign Legion comes as no surprise to Baker, however, in spite of the advancing ages of the ex-Los Angeles players.

“We always felt we could play,” Baker said before Friday’s game against the Angels at Anaheim Stadium. “It’s possible that we could’ve won it (a pennant) four or five more years if we’d have all stayed together.

“Whenever they break up a team like that it’s just a matter of salaries outweighing winning. It was just a question of who and when.”

Baker’s time came in February of 1984; after a series of attempted trades, the Dodgers waived him.

San Francisco claimed Baker, who played for the Giants through March of 1985, when they traded him to the A’s for two minor league players.

“It’s fun,” Baker, 35, said of his most recent team. “And we’re playing well. The A’s are a different organization. They’re more liberal, which is conducive to players they’ve picked up like myself, Bruce Bochte and Dave Kingman.”

A day in the life of Dusty Baker at the ballpark shows why he’s enjoying this season so much. If he’s not being interviewed by reporters, he’s signing autographs for fans, greeting old friends in the stands, all in between batting and fielding practice before the real fun begins.

Of course, when you already have 14 home runs and 48 RBIs with six more weeks to play, it’s easy to be happy.

Initially, it appeared as if the A’s were going to use Baker strictly as a pinch-hitter or designated hitter because they already have an excellent outfield. But Baker quickly found a new home at first base.

“I knew that sooner or later they’d call upon me,” Baker said. “They know how much I want to win. They’ve shown confidence in my ability.”

“The hardest part was just getting used to the position. It’s fun, new, and exciting. It’s not as easy as guys like Steve Garvey and Keith Hernandez make it look.”

Baker says he has no animosity toward his former employers and even wishes his old teammates in blue well.

“I’m very happy for Pedro Guerrero, Welchie (Bob Welch)--guys that I still know there,” he said. “You never want your friends to do poorly.”

Baker isn’t one to dwell on his Dodger days, instead preferring to look ahead to a possible playoff berth for the A’s, assuming they can catch Kansas City and the Angels in the West.

“We’re a lot like the Angels in that we’ve got a good mixture now of veterans and youth,” he said. “Different guys are coming through for us--pitchers like Tim Birtsas and Jay Howell and then Alfredo Griffin have all solidified our team.”

All of which helps take the pressure off a player such as Baker, who subsequently doesn’t have to carry the entire offensive burden for the A’s.

“Hey, baseball’s always been fun whether you’re playing in MacArthur Park, Dodger Stadium, or Anaheim Stadium,” he said.

“Home is where you feel most comfortable at. It’s where you play at.”

As far as the A’s are concerned about Baker, that will likely be in Oakland for several seasons.