Dusty Baker, 76, Returns to Manage Nicaragua's Baseball Team

Dusty Baker stepped into Nicaragua's dugout Thursday night wearing a crisp white jersey, ready to manage a national team for the first time in his legendary career. At 76, after three World Series rings and decades in Major League Baseball, he's taking on what he calls his "last hurrah."

When Nicaraguan baseball reporters first heard Baker was taking the job, they thought it was a joke. The country went 0-4 in their first World Baseball Classic appearance in 2023, and landing a manager of Baker's caliber seemed impossible.

But two former players convinced him to make the trip. Marvin Benard, who played for Baker in San Francisco and is a Nicaragua native, along with Baker's friend George Santiago, had been working on him for years.

Baker and his wife visited Nicaragua in September and fell in love immediately. He traveled to Guatemala in October to watch the team sweep the Central American Games, and the passionate fans sealed the deal.

"They love baseball," Baker said about Nicaraguan fans. "Not only do they love baseball, but they love to be demonstrative, and they love to party, and they love music and they love dancing."

In his first game as manager, Nicaragua tied Cuba 2-2, a promising start for a team facing tournament powerhouses like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. The comeback impressed Baker and energized the squad.

Why This Inspires

Baker isn't just coaching for the competition. He's focused on developing young players across Nicaragua, hoping to create pathways to professional baseball for kids who might never get the chance otherwise.

He brought boxes of donated equipment and bats from Marucci and Rutto Bats to distribute throughout the country. The legendary manager wants to build something that lasts beyond his time there.

"I may not even see the effects of it, but hopefully the young kids in the country will see the effects of it," Baker said. Only two Nicaraguan players made Major League rosters last year, and Baker sees opportunity to change that.

His health required careful consideration. Baker consulted his cardiologist and the team doctor before accepting, given his stroke 13 years ago, prostate cancer 26 years ago, and second pacemaker.

"I'll be 77 in June," Baker said. "How many more times am I going to be in the dugout?"

He knows Nicaragua enters as underdogs in their pool. He's not promising miracles, just his best effort and a chance for players to compete without being overwhelmed by bigger names.

His goal mirrors what every kid learns stepping onto a baseball field for the first time: win one game, then focus on the next. Baker's bringing his lifetime of wisdom to players who need it most, proving it's never too late to make a difference in the game you love.