Stage set for history: Roberts vs. Baker

WASHINGTON — Three miles from the home of America’s first African-American president, our national pastime will witness a profoundly welcome milestone on Friday.

When Dusty Baker’s Washington Nationals host Dave Roberts’ Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Nationals Park (5:30 p.m. ET, FS1), it will mark the first meeting between minority managers in the Major League Baseball postseason — 69 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier.

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 7 5:30 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 2 Oct. 8 4 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 3 Oct. 10 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 / MLBN *Gm 4 Oct. 11 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 *Gm 5 Oct. 13 TBD LAD @ WSH FS1 *- If necessary | All times listed ETShop for postseason gear: Dodgers | Nationals • Complete Postseason coverage

Poignantly, it was 42 years ago this week that Frank Robinson became MLB’s first African-American manager, with the Cleveland Indians; Frank Robinson later managed the Nationals in their inaugural season, 2005.

During a conversation in his office on Wednesday afternoon, Baker was asked if his overwhelming emotion on the occasion is pride (that he’s involved in the historic series) or sadness (that it’s taken so long).

“Neither,” Baker said. “I’m just sad that we have to knock each other out. I wish we could’ve met in the World Series like [A’s third-base coach Ron Washington] and I had talked about.

“You look at the other minority managers in baseball, and they were all in the same division,” Baker added, referring to Washington (Texas), Lloyd McClendon (Seattle), and Bo Porter (Houston). “They had to all knock each other out.”

Today, Baker and Roberts are MLB’s only African-American managers.

“I had ultimate respect for him as a player,” said Baker, who managed NL clubs during Roberts’ time as an outfielder with the Dodgers, Padres and Giants. “We would talk. Then he was in business with Rich Aurilia — the wine business, and I’m in the wine business. They sent me wine. I think I still owe him some wine.

“When he was in San Diego [as a coach], we spoke whenever we played him. I was hoping he’d get an …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com