Everything you need to know about Dusty Baker (including some things you probably never thought to ask about)

Dusty Baker, who has managed the Giants, Cubs and Reds, will be introduced Thursday as the Nationals' new manager, replacing his good friend, Matt Williams.

The Nationals wanted an experienced manager and they got it: Baker has managed 20 seasons in the big leagues.

Here's what you need to know about Baker:

* Baker's given name is Johnnie B. Baker, but his mom gave him the nickname Dusty when he was a kid for an obvious reason: He was the type that was constantly playing in the dirt.

* Baker's wife's name is Melissa. The couple has a daughter, Natosha, and a son, Darren, who become famous as a 3-year-old batboy during the 2002 World Series when Giants first baseman J.T. Snow pulled him away from getting run over during a play at the plate.

* Baker lived near former outfielder Bobby Bonds in Southern California and the two were close friends. In fact, Baker held Bonds' son, Barry, as an infant. Later, Baker managed Barry in San Francisco.

* At a time of new-age statistics, Baker has spoken out against the changing role of managers, not liking the use of statistical analysis to make managing decisions. He told USA Today: "It just seems like everything's about sabermetrics. And if you don't agree with 100 percent of everything being said, then you're against it. But they don't agree with everything we see either. We're more open to what they bring to the table than they are to what we bring to the table."

* As the Cubs manager, Baker got his share of the blame when starters Kerry Wood and Mark Prior were overworked and injured. But Baker also adjusted to pitch counts and, in 2012, the five members of his rotation in Cincinnati each made at least 30 starts. Four of the five reached 200 innings, an accomplishment that hadn't been done since the 2005-2006 White Sox. Baker was the manager who helped develop the Reds' Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey and Mike Leake.

* Baker was on deck for the Braves on April 8, 1974 when Henry Aaron hit his 715th career home run in Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time list. Baker pumped his fist as he watched Aaron's home run in the fourth inning. Earlier, Aaron walked and scored on Baker's double. Baker considers Aaron a mentor.

* Many credit Baker with the first high-five celebration when Baker, after hitting his 30th home run on the final day of the 1977 season for the Dodgers, high-fived teammate Glenn Burke in Dodger Stadium. The home run, against Houston's J.R. Richard, made the Dodgers the first team in history to have four players with at least 30 home runs - Baker, Ron Cey, Reggie Smith and Steve Garvey. "His (Burke's) hand was up in the air and he was arching way back," Baker told reporters, according to the Los Angeles Times. "So I reached up and hit his hand. It seemed like the thing to do."

* Baker's record in the postseason is 19-26. In 2002, his Giants lost to the Angels in Game 7 of the World Series. In 2003, his Cubs lost to the Marlins in the Nationals League Championship Series, the series where fan Steve Bartman interfered with Moises Alou's potential catch. The Cubs lost the final two games of that series after being five outs away from making the World Series. In 2012, the Reds lost to the Giants in the five-game National League Division Series after winning the first two games on the road. The next season, the Reds lost in the wild card game to the Pirates.

* Baker's new job with the Nationals coincides with the release of his book, "Kiss the Sky: My Weekend in Monterey at the Greatest Concert Ever." In the book, he talks about one of his greatest moments, which came in 1967 after his mom gave him tickets to the Monterey Pop Festival for his 18th birthday. That's when he heard guitarist Jimi Hendrix give what is considered the greatest rock 'n roll concert of all-time. His favorite Hendrix song: "All Along the Watch Tower.''

* Also in his book, Baker, who made his name as a baseball player, wrote, "I don't think of myself so much as a baseball man as I see myself as a music man, a Blues man and much more than that." In his book, he talks about other concerts that he's attended, including Simon and Garfunkel, Big Brother, Holding Company and Jefferson Airplane.

* Baker has other business interests, including energy (Baker Energy Team) and wine (Baker Family Wines).

* Baker grew up in Riverside and Sacramento, Calif., and he said in his book that being drafted by the Braves was the best thing that ever happened to him. His dad wanted him to go to college: "The last thing I wanted was to go to the South at the time. But being with Hank (Aaron), I got to meet all these people - Jimmy Carter, Andrew Young, Ralph Abernathy, Jesse Jackson. It helped me get along with people of all backgrounds, and it rounded me out as a person."

* In 1980, Baker hit .294 with 29 home runs and 97 RBI for the Dodgers, landing him fourth in the NL MVP voting behind Philadelphia's Mike Schmidt, Montreal's Gary Carter and Houston's Jose Cruz.

* Baker played in three World Series with the Dodgers. He was on the team when they lost titles to the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. He also was on the team when the Dodgers beat the Yankees in 1981. Baker hit two World Series home runs, one against Mike Torrez in 1977 and one against Ed Figueroa in 1978. Baker had four singles in 26 at-bats for the Dodgers in their 1981 victory.

* He's a three-time NL Manager of the Year.

* As a player, Baker had a career .278 average with 242 home runs and 1,013 RBIs.