Crossroads

A Memoir in Baseball and Life

By: Dusty Baker

Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman, Dusty Baker

Legendary baseball player and manager Dusty Baker reflects on his extraordinary career—filled with invaluable lessons on perseverance, leadership, and living life meaningfully on the field and off—in this “deeply meditative journey into baseball and cultural history” (The Athletic).

“The story of a uniquely American life [from] one of the most beloved people in all of sports.”—San Francisco Chronicle

Dusty Baker walked with baseball legends and became one himself. After he signed with the Braves in 1968 at the age of nineteen against his father’s wishes, no less than the great Hank Aaron promised to take Baker under his wing. Mentored by Aaron, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie Mays, Baker became a premier hitter, helping take the Dodgers to a World Series victory in 1981. He would bookend this with another championship in 2022, this time as a manager helping guide and redeem a Houston Astros team humbled by a cheating scandal. Respected by generations across the game, Baker has come to embody the spirit of the sport—and yet, to discuss his baseball career is only to scratch the surface of a remarkable life.

Crossroads will bring readers into the mind of one of baseball’s mavericks: a curious, inquisitive thinker whose deep interest in the worlds of music, wine, and the simpler joys of life charts a journey of success, struggle, faith, and perseverance. Baker's memoir is filled with hard-earned wisdom and a love for life so plentiful, it seems to radiate from every sentence.

A true American original, counting among his friends presidents and dignitaries, bluesmen and artists, Baker weaves a spell of life at the crossroads, where fate turns on our decisions and the unexpected answers that sometimes seek us out when we least expect it.

Critic reviews

“[Crossroads] is the story of a uniquely American life, full of modern day challenges like divorce and financial pressures but also the beauty of living with a curious mind and open heart. . . . It’s hard to find a person with a grudge toward Baker, one of the most beloved people in all of sports. Spend a few hours with him and it seems that everyone knows him—the cooks in the kitchen, the parking attendants, the folks on the street—and feels a personal connection.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“In his lifetime, the M.L.B. manager has won multiple World Series, shared a joint with Jimi Hendrix, and co-invented the high five. . . . [Baker] has always had a knack for being in the right place at the right time.”—The New Yorker

“There are hundreds of jerseys, autographed baseballs and game-used bats. There are boundless photos on the walls bringing bygone eras back to life, from the Negro Leagues to the majors, from black-and-white to the Technicolor splendor of the 1970s and ’80s. And what makes [Crossroads] so much damn fun is that Baker has a personal connection to nearly every [one]. . . . [T]he overriding theme of the memoir [is] not that Baker met all of these key figures in baseball history; it’s that he listened to them. . . . Crossroads is Baker’s origin story, unspooled one personal connection at a time. . . . [It] is a deeply meditative journey into baseball and cultural history. These pages are his Eras Tour, a spin to the zeniths and the nadirs and the meaning of it all.”—The Athletic

Dusty Baker

Great Book. lots of good memories that Dusty brought it all to life. i didn't realize how much Baseball Dusty lived

Wisdom from Dusty

Worth every second. So good. Everyone will connect with something in Dusty’s story. It has made me consider my own crossroads. Recommend!

Great storytelling and life lessons shared

Mr. Baker spins an amazing tale starting in his childhood on thru his storied career in the Majors. He shares an amazing lifetime of lessons gleaned from his parents and other baseball greats like Hank Aaron.

Outstanding book…….

This is definitely in one of my all time top 5 audio bb books in my vast collection. Well done Dusty…..Highly recommend…..

DUSTY HITS A HOME RUN THAT MAKES HIS DAD, HIS SON, AND HAMMERING HANK PROUD!

Mr. Baker has accomplished all he set out to do. Oh, he didn't get the College Degree his Mother desired, but didn't he?

Dusty Baker persevered through the Minor Leagues, earning his stripes with the Atlanta Braves. He became a bonafide Star/ Superstar with the LA Dodgers, and enjoyed a solid career.

Mr. Baker coached with the San Francisco Giants after his playing career for several years, then became a Sure Baseball Hall Of Fame Manager, starting with the Giants, falling just short of a World's Championship.

Dusty had several years managing the Chicago Cubs, falling just short of making a World Series in the Infamous Bartman NLCS. A dismissal followed a bitter final year.

Note: Manager Baker showed nothing but compassion for the Beleaguered Cub Fan (Steve Bartman), wanting to share an eventual Cubs World's Series triumph with the young man that was not to be for several more years - and long after the Manager's dismissal after his own final difficult year in Chicago.

Dusty then took Bob Castellini's struggling losers, the Cincinnati Reds, and began teaching them to Win. The Reds Won the NL Central, but lost to the eventual Phillies in a 3-game sweep in the NLDS.

Cincy lost a heartbreaking NLDS to San Francisco in 5 games in 2012, being swept at Great American Ball Park at Home the last 3 games after 2 opening wins in SF. The hitters and pitchers lost the games, however, Not the Manager.

Unfortunately, Baker's health began to wane, and Bob lost confidence after a one-game Wildcard loss eliminated the Reds against Pittsburgh in 2013. Again, Baker was gone.

Cincinnati has, regrettably, returned to it's Losing ways in most of it's seasons since. Bob Castellini Fired the WRONG MAN - He should have dismissed himself, as he has FAILED to keep His Word in Bringing Championship Baseball back to the Queen City!

Baker helped Washington Win for 2 seasons, then was gone. FINALLY, Houston, desperate to escape a cheating World Series scandal, called on Dusty to guide their team, and Stayed with him.

They were richly rewarded, as Dusty led them to a 6-game World's Championship over the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022. Dusty FINALLY had his Trophy as a Manager!

Mr. Baker Retired after His Astros lost the ALCS in 7 tough games to the Texas Rangers, but he left with no regrets, and with a lifetime ahead to spend with children and grandchildren.

Dusty Baker IS a Baseball Hall Of Fame Manager, and a Hall Of Fame Son, Family Man, Father, Teammate, and Friend.

Dusty Baker is also a Christian and a Gentleman. His love and humility speaks volumes throughout his lifetime, and he has never been rightly accused of "blowing his own horn." Dusty was "Raised Right!" 🙏✝️

If all that is not enough, Dusty Baker also faithfully served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1968 to 1974, reaching the rank of Lance Corporal. Lance Corporal Baker worked primarily as an auto mechanic in motor transport and was later inducted into the USMC Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. 🇺🇸🪖

This is, easily, my longest review, but this life of Johnnie B "Dusty" Baker Jr. merits it! The Son, Brother, Family Man, Father, Grandfather, Marine, Ballplayer, Baseball HOF Manager... the Christian and Humble Friend has Learned Great Lessons that too many fail to learn in what is supposed to be our finest Institutions of Learning. Dusty Baker's Work, and his Life, certainly has Earned At Least One Doctorate!

Dr. Baker has Taught a Great Lesson Here - At least One! Worth, certainly, a Home Run, and the Equivalent of a World's Championship!

Hammering Hank Aaron, Johnny B. Baker, Sr., and Dusty's own Beloved Mother can all be Proud - This Book is a HOME RUN, and a HUGE WIN! 🏅🏆

SCORE: A+