Which Giants player is next to have his number retired?

No. 12: Dusty Baker

Any arguments used for Bruce Bochy could, to a lesser extent, be applied to Dusty Baker.

He started his managerial career with a bang in 1993, leading the team to a 103-59 record, but the Giants missed the playoffs by one game as there were just two divisions within the National League at the time and the Atlanta Braves led the West with 104 wins.

After three ensuing losing seasons, Baker a seven-year playoff drought for the franchise in 1997, and he brought the team to the playoffs again in 2000, though they were ousted in the NLDS both years.

He then led the Giants to their first World Series appearance since 1989 during the 2002 season, when they took the Anaheim Angels to a final Game 7.

However, controversial decisions in the Game 6 leading up to that and in Game 7 as well may have soiled the relationship between Baker and management. He ended up signing on to manage the Chicago Cubs the following season, while the Giants moved on to Felipe Alou as their next manager.

Despite not claiming victory in critical situations quite like Bochy, Baker still found success that the team had not seen since being swept by the Oakland A’s in 1989 World Series, and early 1970s before that.

As manager of the Giants, Baker finished with a 840-715 record (.540 win percentage). The team finished no less than second the final six years of his tenure, and eight of his 10 years at the helm. Baker’s 1,863 career wins over 3,500 games as a manager rank fifteenth on baseball’s all-time list.

Though it’s hard to compare Bochy and Baker, as they had two vastly different teams during their respective eras, Baker’s career with the Giants and in the MLB are certainly worthy of some form of honor by the franchise or MLB.