[Applause] Dusty Baker brings out the best in all his players you can't ask more of a manager 74-year-old Dusty Baker has lived in incredible baseball life touching seven decades since he was drafted by the Braves in June of 1967 but beyond that his personal experiences helped to define a unique American Life Baker began his 19-year playing career with a 1968 Braves witnessing the racial abuse faced by Henry Aaron as Henry neared B Ruth's home run record as it turned out Baker was in the on Deck circle on April 8th 1974 when Aaron passed the babe what a marvelous moment for baseball what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia what a marvelous moment for the country and the world I saw what he went through to you know to get to that moment you know he's me everything to me in my baseball career Baker's best years as a player came with the Dodgers to whom the Braves traded him in November of 1975 it was with the Dodgers in' 77 that he wound up as a part of a fun piece of baseball trivia as the co-creator of the high five on the last day of the 77 regular season Baker hit his 30th Homer of the year in the on Deck Circle teammate Glenn Burke held his hand up in the air in celebration Baker uncertain how to react slapped Burke's hand with his own and the high five was born Glenn Burke did it not me everybody says it was me it was Glenn that same year Baker earned NLCS MVP honors collecting two homers and eight runs driven in and the Dodgers win over the Phillies the Dodgers would lose the 77 World Series to the Yankees but Baker and the Dodgers got their Revenge with a six-game triumph over the bombers in the 1981 fall classic I just thank God that we didn't lose again to those Yankees after finishing his playing career in 1986 Baker became a coach with the Giants then prior to the 93 season they named him their manager at 43 he was the youngest manager in the game over the next three decades Dusty would find regular season success and postseason heartbreak heading over near the wall in foul territory is Alo he jumps in a fan took it away from him and Aloo is livid the ball was clearly in the seats but Baker persevered and along the way never lost his ability to connect with players over the many years he's managed some of the game's biggest stars Barry Bonds Ken griffy Jr Joey vad Bryce Harper Jose Altuve and more and yet it seems nobody has a bad word to say about Dusty in his 25th season as a big league Skipper his Astros beat the Phillies to win the World Series the Houston Astros world champions I'm so proud of you guys man thank you I love you guys man over 26 managerial Seasons Dusty Baker took his team to the postseason 13 times he was named manager of the year three times he's the only man to take five different teams to the postseason his 21 83 regular season victories are seventh all time in a few years Baker will assume his rightful spot in Cooperstown having lived an inspiring baseball life and American Life Baker put it best when he told sport Illustrated back in 1999 my whole career my life really has been a dream