Ken Griffey Jr. and Dusty Baker represent two of baseball’s best goodwill ambassadors, so it’s fitting that they found time to pay tribute to the best of them all.
Griffey and Baker recently visited the statue honoring Roberto Clemente in Managua, Nicaragua. The Pittsburgh Pirates legend died in a plane crash while trying to bring relief supplies from Puerto Rico to Nicaragua after a devastating earthquake in 1972. Clemente was 38.
“He never made it to Nicaragua,” Griffey said, “but his spirit did, and it never left.”
“When I got here, that’s the first place I came: this statue,” Baker said, gazing up at Clemente’s likeness. “This is something that was close to me.”
The MLB Network captures that tribute in a documentary short exploring Nicaragua’s baseball history — and future. The 9-minute feature will debut during its “Hot Stove” program at 10 a.m. ET on Monday.
Griffey traveled to Nicaragua in his role as a global ambassador for the World Baseball Classic. Baker is the manager for longshot Team Nicaragua, which began play in Pool D last week. As Baker says in the doc, “I was a 25th-round draft choice, so you know I’m an underdog-type guy.
“Last night,” Baker added, “I was up, and it was dark, and I saw the stars. It made me really realize how fortunate I am to be here. … We’re in a David and Goliath situation. We’re going to try to make this a ‘Miracle on Ice.’”
It’s fun to watch Griffey and Baker, a pair of charismatic giants, bantering while exploring the country’s beauty, food, coffee and community.
“I love Dusty,” Griffey said via email. “He’s what baseball is all about. He’s been impacting the game for decades, and now he’s teaching these young Nicaraguan men about life and baseball. Getting a chance to experience this trip with him is something I’ll remember for a long time.”
Ken Griffey Jr. is making the rounds as a World Baseball Classic ambassador, including this visit during a Pool B game between the United States and Brazil. (Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images)
When Griffey asks Baker what he’s learned about the Nicaraguan culture that he didn’t expect, the three-time National League Manager of the Year delivers a poignant answer.
“I had no idea how giving the people are,” Baker replies. “They’ll give you something when they have nothing to give. And it’s really refreshing to see that they’ve got beautiful people here.”
Griffey has leaned into his WBC ambassador role, showing the same joyful ease on camera as he once did on the field. He cooked pasta with Michael Lorenzen and Jac Caglianone of Team Italy, sat down with Manny Machado to discuss the Dominican Republic’s love of baseball and ventured behind the scenes with Team USA on workout day.
Griffey also interviewed Grammy winner Tainy in Puerto Rico about the WBC anthem. He’s also toted his camera all along to every stop, including shooting Team USA’s victory over Great Britain on Saturday night.
For pure feel-good cinema, though, it’s tough to top watching Griffey and Baker having a heart-to-heart.
“What makes the WBC so special is that it unites people all over the world,” said Ben Friedfeld, MLB Network VP, content logistics and field production. “Seeing Junior and Dusty expound on their love for the game deep in the heart of Nicaragua was just a memorable experience. The image of them alongside the great Roberto Clemente’s statue is timeless.”