Baseball legend Dusty Baker honored at A Conversation With a Living Legend®, raises $1.5 million for cancer research

HOUSTON ― Cancer survivor and baseball legend Dusty Baker brought the laughs and the tears Thursday, Feb. 16 at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s signature A Conversation With a Living Legend® event, hosted at the Hilton Americas Houston.

“Thank you to MD Anderson for this great honor,” said Baker. “Tonight’s event was wonderful to be a part of supporting MD Anderson and all their important efforts to end cancer.”

The intimate fireside-style chat led by Todd Kalas, voice of the Houston Astros, brought the crowd of nearly 900 to their feet, rally towels and all. Photo opportunities with the Commissioner’s Trophy and a tribute video complete with interviews from fellow cancer survivor Buck Martinez, play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays; philanthropist Billye Aaron, wife of the late Hank Aaron, major league baseball hall of famer and former MD Anderson Living Legend; and more added to the excitement for the more than $1.5 million raised for cancer research and patient programs at MD Anderson.

“Dusty’s passion for the sport and his remarkable leadership are unmatched,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “He is the epitome of a Living Legend and we are grateful for his efforts in our mission to end cancer.”

Chaired by a triple threat of noteworthy Houstonians – Don Sinclair, T. Mark Kelly and Bob Gwin, all members of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors – A Conversation with a Living Legend^® honored Baker’s impact not only on the field but among cancer survivors everywhere.

"We are incredibly grateful to Dusty, a true gentleman whose love of his family and unwavering faith make him a special role model for all of us,” said Sinclair. “His success on and off the baseball field continued last night, as we honor him with more than $1.5 million raised in Making Cancer History®."

A Conversation With a Living Legend®
Baker and Kalas’ fireside chat lasted nearly an hour and spanned Baker’s decades-long career in Major League Baseball. Nothing was off the table as Baker spouted lessons on forgiveness; family including mentor and MLB great Henry Aaron (Baker was on deck when Aaron broke the home run record); musical interests; Spanish lessons that came in handy in his pro-ball days; and calls from President Barack Obama, Snoop Dogg and Sandy Koufax post-World Series win.

A PSA screening alerted Baker to his aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis before the start of the 2002 season. Post-diagnosis, he made a commitment to take his son Darren to as many games as possible, including a World Series game where Darren (then bat boy) almost collided with a player at home plate. Today, Darren plays for the Nationals and will be rooming with Baker during spring training in West Palm Beach.

Since 1990, thousands of donors across the country have joined in support of A Conversation With a Living Legend^®, MD Anderson’s signature fundraising event. Its live interview concept has honored celebrities, heads of state, sports icons and other legendary figures, while audiences in Atlanta; Corpus Christi; Houston; Las Vegas; San Antonio; and Washington, D.C., have raised more than $50 million for cancer research and patient care programs to date.

A Legend through and through
Dusty Baker was named the Houston Astros 19th field manager in franchise history on Jan. 29, 2020. In what was his 25th year as a Major League manager, the 2022 season was perhaps Baker’s most memorable as he guided the Astros to a World Series championship. En route to the title, Baker’s Astros posted one of the most dominant seasons in recent history. After leading the American League with 106 wins, the Astros went 11-2 in the postseason, which included a combined 7-0 record in the ALDS (3-0 vs. Seattle) and ALCS (4-0 vs. New York), before defeating the Phillies in the World Series in six games. The title was Baker’s first as a manager and second overall as he was a part of the championship 1981 Dodgers club as a player. Additionally, Baker has now won three pennants as a manager in his career, including in back-to-back seasons as the Astros skipper (2021-22).

Baker has World Series experience as a player, coach and manager, having played in the Fall Classic in 1977, 1978 and 1981 with the Dodgers. As a manager, prior to 2022, Baker guided both the 2002 Giants and 2021 Astros to the World Series and was a coach on the 1989 NL Champion Giants club.

Born Johnnie B. Baker, Jr. on June 15, 1949, in Riverside, CA, “Dusty” Baker currently resides in California with his wife, Melissa, and children, Natosha and Darren. A 1967 graduate of Del Campo High School in Carmichael, CA, Baker attended American River College in Sacramento, CA. Baker’s son, Darren, was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft from the University of California (Berkley).