Dusty Baker was presented as the Cincinnati Reds new manager during a press conference on Monday noon at Great American Ball Park. He signed a three-year contract to manage the team through the 2010 season.

After working with the San Francisco Giants and with the Chicago Cubs over the last 14 seasons and achieving the feat of being designated as the National League Manager of the Year on three occasions, Baker recently became the 60th manager in Reds’ history. He is also the first African-American manager in Reds history.

He is also a baseball analyst working with the ESPN and he announced he will continue the collaboration with the American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24/7 until the end of the postseason.  

"I couldn't be more excited," said general manager Wayne Krivsky, who was joined at the press conference by Reds owner/CEO Bob Castellini. "This guy embodies everything you're looking for in a leader, in a winner."

As a skipper, Baker owns a 1,162-1,041 career record and managed to make it to the World Series with the Giants in 2002.

"I wanted to get back in a situation in which we can win," Baker said. "I'm used to winning and being on top."

Baker is regarded as a players’ manager, just as Reds radio announcer Jeff Brantley, who played under his management in 1993said: "I love Dusty. I'd play for Dusty anytime."

Nevertheless, his arrival also has drawn some criticism, especially from fans. The main issue pointed out by fans irritated with Baker’s arrival was the way he handles pitchers. Most of them indicated that he ignores pitch counts and tends to leave pitchers in games too long.