
Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker Jr., the current manager of the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball, has been known to wear plastic gloves during games. Baker has been in the spotlight for his unique style on the field, which includes a plethora of accessories such as sweatbands, a Fitbit, and an Astros-themed mask. While Baker has not explicitly stated the reason for wearing gloves, his wife, Melissa, has confirmed that it is a precautionary measure against COVID-19, especially considering his previous health scares, including cancer and a stroke.
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What You'll Learn
- Dusty Baker's wife, Melissa, says the gloves are a COVID-19 precaution
- Baker has a history of health issues, including cancer and a stroke
- He has been seen wearing sweatbands, a Fitbit, and an Astros-themed mask
- Baker's habit of chewing toothpicks has been a topic of discussion
- The gloves are one of many theories about Baker's unique style

Dusty Baker's wife, Melissa, says the gloves are a COVID-19 precaution
Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker Jr., born on June 15, 1949, is the current manager of the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball. He was a hard-hitting outfielder in the major leagues for 19 years, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. Baker joined the Astros in 2019, with the motive to bring their reputation back by showcasing a praiseworthy run. Baker has been in the spotlight for his unique style on the field. He wears sweatbands up and down his arms, a Fitbit, and an Astros-themed mask for most of Houston's games. He also has a habit of chewing on a toothpick and twirling it in his mouth.
Baker's wife, Melissa, told Sporting News that the gloves are a precaution for COVID-19. In July, Baker was asked why he was still wearing a mask during games. He explained that it was related to some previous health scares he had had in the past. Baker said, "I still wear a mask because I had cancer 20 years ago and I had a stroke seven years ago. Some of the fans get on me, 'Take your mask off.' ... You don't have to wear it, but it's in my best interest to wear it." Baker, 72, brought COVID-19 safeguards into the Astros' clubhouse in 2020. He was wearing gloves to pump gas in the early stages of the pandemic and was religiously "wiping down things" as a precaution.
Baker has had several health scares in the past, including prostate cancer, a mini-stroke, and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat). It is understandable that he would take extra precautions to protect his health, including wearing gloves and a mask. Baker is at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 because he is a public figure who is constantly surrounded by people and shaking hands. His decision to wear gloves is likely a combination of his previous health issues and the ongoing pandemic.
Baker's gloves have become a notable part of his wardrobe and have caught the eyes of many, especially since they stand out among his other accessories. While Baker himself has not fully explained his decision to wear gloves, his wife Melissa's statement provides insight into his precautionary measures during the pandemic.
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Baker has a history of health issues, including cancer and a stroke
Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker Jr. is the current manager of the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball. Baker has been in the spotlight for his unique style on the field. He carries quite a few accessories with him during games, including sweatbands, a Fitbit, and an Astros-themed mask. In 2021, he added gloves to his wardrobe, which has caught the attention of many.
Baker's wife, Melissa, confirmed that the gloves are a precaution against COVID-19, especially since Baker is constantly surrounded by people and is at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Baker himself has stated that he continues to wear a mask due to his health history: "I still wear a mask because I had cancer 20 years ago and I had a stroke seven years ago. Some of the fans get on me, 'Take your mask off.' You don’t have to wear it, but it’s in my best interest to wear it."
Baker's decision to wear gloves and a mask is a personal choice that takes into account his previous health issues and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While some may see it as an eccentricity, it is a choice that prioritises his health and well-being. Baker has successfully led the Astros since 2020, and his unique style and quirks have become a part of his successful managerial approach.
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He has been seen wearing sweatbands, a Fitbit, and an Astros-themed mask
Dusty Baker, manager of the Houston Astros, has been seen wearing sweatbands, a Fitbit, and an Astros-themed mask. Baker is known for his unique style, which includes a variety of accessories during games. He has been seen wearing sweatbands or wristbands on his arms, which he uses to wipe perspiration from his forehead. Baker has also been seen wearing a Fitbit, indicating his interest in tracking his health and fitness.
The Astros-themed mask has drawn attention during exhibition games, with Baker wearing it during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Baker explained that wearing a mask was a precaution due to previous health issues, including cancer and a stroke. He stated that wearing a mask and taking other safety measures, such as wearing gloves and wiping down surfaces, were in his best interest.
Baker's fashion choices extend beyond the mask, gloves, and sweatbands. He is also known for habitually chewing on a toothpick, a habit he has had for most of his 23 years as an MLB manager. Baker's toothpick helps him refrain from chewing tobacco, and it has become such a signature that some "Dusty-watchers" believe it contributes to his image as a player-turned-manager.
Baker's style and accessory choices have become a notable part of his persona as a baseball manager. While his gloves initially stood out during the Astros' 2020 season, his other accessories, including the sweatbands, Fitbit, and Astros-themed mask, have also drawn attention and contributed to his distinctive look during games.
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Baker's habit of chewing toothpicks has been a topic of discussion
Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker Jr., the current manager of the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball, has been known for his unique style on the field. Apart from his impressive resume, Baker has caught the eye with his wardrobe choices, including sweatbands on his arms, a Fitbit, and an Astros-themed mask. One of his most notable habits is his penchant for chewing toothpicks, which he has done for most of his 23 years as an MLB manager. Baker's toothpick chewing has become such a trademark that it has sparked discussions and curiosity among fans and the media.
Baker's toothpick chewing has been a part of his routine for a significant portion of his career. It is something that he does habitually, especially during games, and it has become intertwined with his public persona. While some may view it as a harmless quirk, others may consider it a potential health concern, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the focus on respiratory hygiene.
Baker's toothpick habit has also been mentioned in the context of his overall impact on players. For example, when he was with the Cincinnati Reds, there was a story about how he influenced the personal development of pitcher Homer Bailey, and it was noted that Bailey had borrowed books from Baker. This anecdote highlights how Baker's habits and personality can leave an impression on those around him, and the toothpick chewing is a distinctive part of his persona.
Baker's choice to chew toothpicks has been a well-known aspect of his character and has contributed to his reputation as a unique and eccentric figure in the baseball world. While he has not publicly explained the reason behind this habit, it has become an accepted part of his persona, and fans and media alike have embraced it as one of his quirks. As a highly successful manager, Baker has shown that his idiosyncrasies can coexist with his professional achievements.
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The gloves are one of many theories about Baker's unique style
Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker Jr., the current manager of the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball, has been known for his unique style on the field. Apart from his sweatbands, Astros-themed mask, and toothpick-chewing habit, Baker has also been seen wearing gloves during Astros games, which has caught the attention of many.
Baker's gloves are usually black or orange, and sometimes blue nitrile or plastic. While Baker himself has not fully explained his decision to wear gloves, his wife, Melissa, told Sporting News that the gloves are a COVID-19 precaution. Baker, who is 72 years old, has had several health scares in the past, including prostate cancer, a stroke, and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat). Given his previous health issues, it is understandable that he would want to take extra precautions to protect himself from the coronavirus.
Baker's style, including his glove-wearing, has become a trademark of his successful management of the Astros. His willingness to adopt safety protocols, such as wearing masks and gloves, showcases his commitment to health and well-being, both personally and for his team. This is especially important given his previous health issues, and it sets a positive example for others to follow.
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Frequently asked questions
Dusty Baker, the manager of the Houston Astros, wears plastic gloves as a precaution against COVID-19.
No, Baker's gloves are a relatively new addition to his wardrobe. He started wearing them before the 2020 MLB season.
Baker wears sweatbands up and down his arms, a Fitbit, and an Astros-themed mask for most of Houston's games. He also chews on a toothpick and twirls it in his mouth.
Baker has explained that he wears a mask because he had cancer 20 years ago and a stroke seven years ago.













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