PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — When you think of a Philadelphia Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park, you often think of the sights of red, white, and blue uniforms and the green of the lovable Phillie Phanatic, and the smells and tastes of crabby fries, soft pretzels, ice cream, and water ice.
And of course, the voice of public address announcer Dan Baker over the stadium speakers.
"Dan is synonymous with Phillies baseball," said Executive Vice President Dave Buck.
"He's synonymous with the Phillies," franchise icon and Senior Advisor Larry Bowa unknowingly echoed.
"He's a staple of Philadelphia sports," explained Oscar Alvarado of Phillies fan group Phandemic Krew.
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"Happy 50th Anniversary,” Phandemic Krew co-founder Brett MacMinn added. “To be in the same place that long is a testament to being such a great guy."
Baker is about to begin his 50th season as the Phillies' PA voice — longevity that's rare and doesn't happen by accident.
"It's a been a privilege all these years to announce Phillies baseball," Baker said, "first at Veterans Stadium and now at Citizens Bank Park. And to do it for this long is a great honor. Over the last five decades, I mean, my goodness I've had a chance to announce most of the greatest Phillies in the history of this wonderful franchise."
Baker, 75, is referring to names like Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Bryce Harper and many others.
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He simply loves what he does, and loves being at the ballpark.
"I try to convey that in my announcing that this is a great place to be. Isn't this fun? And aren't we lucky to be here? Let's root the Phillies on to a victory."
Phillies Chairman Emeritus Bill Giles, who was a vice president of the organization in charge of marketing in the early 1970s, hired Baker before the 1972 season.
"I wanted the best guy I could find, and some people recommended Dan to me," Giles said.
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According to Baker, the guy who helped set up his interview with Giles was Pat Cassidy, who Baker said was the director of operations at Veterans Stadium.
Baker said he initially met Cassidy at Franklin Field on Penn's campus, where the Philadelphia Eagles played before moving to Veterans Stadium. Cassidy was the press box steward and Baker was doing statistics for visiting NFL announcers.
Eventually, Baker explained he ran into Cassidy again in the early 70's at a restaurant and went over to say hello. That's when Cassidy told Baker the Phillies are thinking about changing their public address announcer.
"'Would you have any interest?’” Baker said in quoting Cassidy’s request.
"’ Would I have any interest,'" Baker responded. '"I’d give my right arm for a chance like that.'"
Baker's interview with Giles was in November 1971 after the Phillies first year at the Vet. Giles revealed to Baker the job wasn't only announcing names and announcements over the public address system, but also operating the balls and strikes scoreboard.
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"I said, 'Mr. Giles, if you hire me, I will be the quickest and the most accurate in baseball,” Baker said about the multitasking challenge.
“For the 32 years that I announced Phillies baseball at Veterans Stadium, I kept track of the balls, strikes, and outs. And true to my word, I was the quickest and most accurate in baseball."
"It was very important to me for him to be quick with him fingers when he's putting up balls and strikes," Giles said.
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Baker's responsibilities no longer included balls and strikes once the Phillies moved to Citizens Bank Park in 2004.
But his voice remained, and has been a constant at Phillies games for a half century. From 1972 through 2018, Baker barely missed any games — less than 20, in fact.
However, in 2019, Baker began experiencing health problems and missed almost the exact same amount of games that season as he had in the previous 47.
Health issues have persisted over the past few years, including squamous cell carcinoma, a former of skin cancer. Baker had to have it removed from the right cheek on his face. Baker has also had to deal with a lingering infection.
If you think that affected his positive, likable, kind attitude, you are mistaken.
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"I've been lucky. They tell me that the type of cancer that I had and where I had it 40 years ago, people didn't survive these. And 20 years ago, you had people with half a face,” Baker admitted.
“But now, with the advancements of modern medical science, they transplanted bone and tissue from my leg to my face, so I used to think I was somewhat handsome," Baker added with a laugh.
"But if anybody ever told me I had Hollywood good looks, I think they're referring to Nightmare of Elm Street."
Baker missed the entire pandemic-shortened 2020 season but returned in 2021, which was initially supposed to be his 50th season. He doesn't count 2020, which is why this year is officially 50.
"I didn't need to have a cancer diagnosis to underscore how much I love announcing Phillies baseball," Baker said, referring to his job as his purpose.
"I always did. I always will…for however long God blesses me with good health and the Phillies will have me and that I can perform at a high level, I'm going to continue doing this."
It's clear the Phillies love Baker as much as he loves them.
"50 years is a long time," Buck said, "and in the good times, it's great and you hear Dan, and when the team's not doing so well, you still hear Dan, and it's kind of comforting."
"We've never had one complaint that I'm aware of in my whole 50 years with him," said Giles.
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"He's been extremely accurate and he always has emphasis on a guy's name, particularly the better players, and the way he introduces some of the better known players made it exciting for the people in the stands."
"This would be a great 50th anniversary for us to get to the World Series and have Dan introduce the starting lineup in 2022 in October," said Bowa, who wished Baker the best moving forward with his health.
"He is a fighter. Believe me, this guy is a fighter. He's a blue-collar worker, and to see what he has overcome, I take my hat off to him."
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