Baker Keeps Building for the Future

Strolling across his Northern California estate, Dusty Baker stops to pull weeds, checks out the solar paneling that provides energy to cool and heat his new home, and fixes the drip irrigation system in his vineyard.

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He takes a quick breather on a rock at one of two meditation spots, where he likes to go at night to think.

Baker has had more than enough going on this year to take his mind off a disappointing departure from the Chicago Cubs last fall.

Aside from a job as a broadcaster with ESPN, his primary project has been finishing the custom-made, energy-efficient house outside Sacramento, about a mile from a lake where he grew up swimming, fishing, hunting and camping.

Gone is the signature toothpick dangling from his mouth — as much a part of Baker’s baseball persona as the No. 12 jersey he wore while managing.

“No stress,” he said.

Yet that could come soon. The 58-year-old Baker says he is eager to return to the dugout, and he believes his best days as a skipper are ahead.

His contract was not renewed last fall after he spent four years managing the Cubs. In his final season, Chicago dealt with numerous injuries and finished with the worst record in the National League at 66-96. That was after the Cubs fell five outs short of reaching the World Series in his first season.

They replaced him with Lou Piniella. Baker also managed the San Francisco Giants for 10 years, from 1993 through their World Series season of 2002.

“I’m pretty close,” Baker said of being ready to return to the field. “This year’s been good. It has to be the right spot. People say, ‘Are you through?’ Heck, I’m only halfway to Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa. Chicago was tough. I learned from it. If you don’t learn, you’re not living. I learned a lot about people and a lot about myself. I was tough before. Nothing fazes me now.”

Baker is out of uniform for the first time since a brief stint as a stockbroker in 1987 after retiring from his 19-year playing career. He became a coach with San Francisco the next season.

While he takes monthly cross-country flights for ESPN, Baker, a three-time N.L. manager of the year, has slept in his own bed more often than not.

“At least my home base is home,” he said.

He said he had enjoyed having more time with his wife, Melissa, and their 8-year-old son, Darren — not to mention some close friends who have helped make Baker’s nearly completed dream home a reality.

Solar strips line the top of his 4,000-square-foot workshop to heat and cool the 8,750-square-foot main house.

The panels on the roof of Darren’s nearly completed batting cage, which will feature bleacher seats from ballparks where Baker played, heat a nearby pool.

The house has been in the works for years, practically since the days Baker and his best friend and former high school teammate, Dennis Kludt, were teenagers and started discussing the idea of one day living in the area as adults. Kludt lives a few miles away and is the project manager for the house. Baker has a long-standing interest in energy and water issues and has mailed Kludt many articles about related topics.

“This is Mr. Solar, Dusty Solar Baker,” joked Kevin Boedecker, the solar expert on the project.

The sprinkler system is solar-powered, too, as is the backup system. Baker also earns credits when he puts energy back into the grid.

His electric bill would be upwards of ,000 a month, but he will hand over hardly a cent come winter.

And he said he expected to save money in the long run.

Baker will also be helping to market and promote Solar Pro, the company doing the work on his house.

“I was really into it, to try to save power and be world conscious, and save money, too,” Baker said. “I believe this is the wave of the future.

“We thought of just about everything.”

He is not kidding.

Melissa got her wish to have a lavish living space for Bailey, an 11-year-old German shorthaired pointer. The dog, Baker’s hunting partner, even has her own bathtub.

Not far from Bailey’s wing, Baker carefully removed the plastic covering from a large painting of Opus One wine — one of his favorites — to be hung on the wall across from the entry to his 1,300-bottle wine cellar.

On the opposite side of the house, he has a fitness room with weights, cardio equipment and steam room, as well as a hot tub right outside.

A large barbecue and patio area are complete with misters.

With the push of a button, Baker clicks on a spraying mist to offer a reprieve from the California heat.

“Darren loves this,” he said. “More than anything, he loves this.”

Darren also has a basketball court and a pathway around the property to ride his bicycle.

Baker repeatedly bends to pick weeds while walking along, then stuffs them into an empty water bottle.

“I’m always pulling weeds,” he said.

Baker’s detached workshop features space for vehicles or a boat, and also has an office with a small kitchen, couches, surround sound and a television. He touches a small control panel on the outside wall, and music fills the entire building as Baker bounces to the beat and sings along.