Dusty Baker introduced as new Washington Nationals manager

The Washington Nationals introduced Dusty Baker as the team's sixth manager on Thursday.

"I've felt a sense of responsibility the whole time I've been managing because there's never really been many managers of color.

"My mom always stressed education and pride in our family. My parents were heavily involved in the NAACP when I was a kid, and I was in junior NAACP. There is a sense of pride and, at the same time, hopefully I can help make a difference.

"All the calls I've gotten, people have said, 'Hey man, it's better to have you in the game than out of the game and we need you,' and try to lead by example to help others in the future," Baker said at his introductory news conference.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said that Baker's race had nothing to do with the team's decision to hire him.

"We really chose Dusty for the resume he brings and the way he conducted himself.

The thing that put Dusty over the top was the trust factor that he had with not only me, because we knew so many of the same people, but the trust factor with ownership was huge in this process," Rizzo said.