Not enough famous Lakers or Rams can make the #12 list. Charles White of USC comes close, but this baby’s going to another Dodger: Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker, Jr. He played in the majors from 1968 to 1986 with the Braves, Dodgers, Giants, and Athletics in that order. But it was with the Dodgers that he played his best. He was in three World Series and finally won with the Dodgers in 1981.
Here’s a story that I found very interesting about Baker. Many believe that Baker played an integral part in the first ever high five which occurred between Baker and Dodgers teammate Glenn Burke on October 2, 1977, in Dodgers Stadium. It was the last day of the regular season, and Dodgers leftfielder Dusty Baker had just gone deep off the Astros' J. R. Richard. It was Baker's 30th home run, making the Dodgers the first team in history to have four sluggers – Baker, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey and Reggie Smith – with at least 30 homers each. It was a wild, triumphant moment and a good omen as the Dodgers headed to the playoffs. Burke, waiting on deck, thrust his hand enthusiastically over his head to greet his friend at the plate. Baker, not knowing what to do, smacked it. "His hand was up in the air, and he was arching way back", says Baker, now 62 and managing the Reds. "So I reached up and hit his hand. It seemed like the thing to do."
There ya go. The high 5 was started by a Dodger. Did you just get the same warm, fuzzy feeling that I got, Frank??
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