Never mind the Phillies, with all Baker himself had gone through Nope, no, said Baker, the Phillies public address announcer of a half century. Seated next to Baker was the scoreboard director, Chris Wheeler. The Philadelphia Phillies honored Baker for 50 years of service as the franchise's PA announcer Friday in a ceremony where he to no surprise of anyone that has ever met him talked as much about his love for his family and the team as he did about himself. Not just because he gets to see newcomers Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos hit the field. But as Ive gotten older, thats kind of what Ive realized.. Baker never publicized his health issuesbecause he didnt want to be a source of sorrow for Phillies fans. And I wasnt thinking that at the time. Oh, well, he muttered firmly while pounding the table with his right fist. They always watch games together. When the Phillies moved to Citizens Bank Park, the same routine would apply pregame and in-game. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. PA Announcer Dan Baker Set to Celebrate 50 Years as Voice of Philadelphia Phillies During 2022 MLB Season - Sports Illustrated Inside The Phillies Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Dan. Dan, bench players dont seem to get the same enthusiastic announcement. He can be almost soothing when that trait might be helpful. Hes not denying they are loud. In conversation, put it at 97%. to fight any efforts by the league to implement a salary cap . But Baker has done it for 50 years with his pronounced style. The stadium voice of the Phillies and . Does Baker, now 76, see himself shooting for tops on the all-time list. See what you can. Trades are not prorated, new debuts are not added, incentives are not included. I'm actually a Philadelphia native having moved to Mt. He was 97 when he retired [announced his last game], Baker said of Sheppard. There are certain names that lend themselves to a more melodic interpretation, Baker said. First published on April 8, 2022 / 7:24 AM. "I have much in common with Phillies fans. It might be wishful thinking, but goshdarnit its a goal, and Im going to try to achieve it, if the Phillies will have me," he said. Dan Baker, a Philadelphia treasure April 28th, 2022 Larry Shenk Share "Leading off for the St. Louis Cardinals . St. Louis Cardinals 2023 salary cap table, including breakdowns of salaries, bonuses, incentives, cap figures, dead money and more. The 75-year-old then, just like he would if they were walking to the plate, rang off of a few of his most iconic player intros. When I look around, and to think, youre being recognized for doing something that you love so much, it just goes to show me what a lucky person I am to work in this environment. 27, Willie McCovey. I was embarrassed. The Phillies offered him the right to reclaim the role he's had since 1972 when he was ready. How lucky have I been to find a home with the Philadelphia Phillies more than 50 years ago?. He is human. The Phillies will honor Baker before Friday night's game. In the same way that many people of a certain age grew up saying the names of Phillies stars in a Harry Kalas-esque voice, if youve watched the team over the last half century, its impossible not to think of how Baker introduced them as they walked to the plate. Subscribe to the Phillies Talk podcast:Apple Podcasts|Google Play|Spotify|Stitcher|Art19|Watch on YouTube, Dan Baker, the 'Voice of CBP,' back where he belongs. The all-time list in his profession is topped by Pat Pieper, who worked the Wrigley Field PA system for the Cubs for 59 seasons, from 1916-74. In 2022, the team held a special Dan Baker 50th Anniversary Salute Night on August 5, and to recognize his career milestone, he was chosen for a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. His careers overlapped for almost a decade. Before he gets to do that, theres homework. First, though, Bill Giles would make another assignment. Dan Baker couldnt have hand-picked a better year to celebrate his 50th season as the in-stadium voice of the Philadelphia Phillies. Please let us know if you find any errors, updates, or corrections More Phillies Pages Philadelphia Phillies Franchise Pages Year-by-Year Stats Batting Pitching Leaders Top 10 Career Batting Top 10 Single-Season Batting On September 16, 2015, XFINITY Live! Ephraim is where I really developed my love of baseball and the Phillies, he explained. There are so many people who work at jobs and do great work and deserve all kinds of praise but they might not be in a position of visibility where theyre recognized or people see them, so to some extent, all of their accomplishments are done somewhat anonymously. After the 2009 retirement of the New York Yankees' Bob Sheppard, Baker became the longest-tenured PA announcer in Major League Baseball. Choates parents had a Sunday ticket plan at Veterans Stadium when he was a kid growing up in Delaware County. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Press the red button and his recognizable voice blares throughout the ballpark. They were played in front of 45,000 empty seats. Listening to Baker say it, in that unmistakable voice, I wouldnt root against him. A detailed schedule of the pregame events timed down to the second is available to the entire control room staff. Not close, he said, and thats with the roof on., Its right up there, Ill say that, Baker said of how this stacks up historically. He helped Baker land an interview. It's a great honor for me. What a joy it is to work with all of those people in the PhanaVision and scoreboard control room. And when he can summon cheers with the sound of his own voice Its music to my ears, Baker said of the roars that still accompany a lifes work. Being in the control room with him six years ago, I experienced what I had heard. With a blue felt-tip pen, he makes note of names that need checking on the 5x7 index cards he numbers in sequence. Despite all the health obstacles that hes faced, Baker sounds like someone who thinks he has turned the corner and is excited about the future, one of he believes will include quite a bit of time spent at Citizens Bank Park. Current Public Address announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies going into my 45th season! Baker reprises his role as the Philadelphia Phillies PA announcer for select Phillies away games at multiple venues that comprise a chain of Philadelphia area sports bars. Multiple generations of Phillies fans have formative memories narrated in Bakers cadence. "I'm flattered to be connected with Phillies baseball. Dan Baker, the 'Voice of CBP,' back where he belongs. I felt bad, Baker said. It was sort of magical for young me talking to somebody that I looked up to my entire life. To verify player enunciations, hell ask the public relations staffs or visiting radio-TV announcers or even the player himself. One he recalls happened in the mid-1970s. I've felt that way since I was a kid.". 1 Priority For The Phillies Ahead Of Trade Deadline, Chase Utley Moving To London For New MLB Role, Rookie Darick Hall Enjoying Overwhelming Support As New Phils Slugger, Pete Rose To Appear At Citizens Bank Park During Alumni Weekend. Bryce Harpers legend grows as he homers on first World Series pitch he sees at Citizens Bank Park, Kyle Schwarber is the perfect leadoff hitter for this magical Phillies team, Phillies won 7-0 to take a 2-1 series lead, California residents do not sell my data request. I feel very proud.. . They sat in right field. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. When Baker announces next season, his 50th, he will become just the third MLB public address announcer to reach that level of longevity. He bought one ticket in the first row of Section 214. Hes continued to perform at a high level into his mid-70s, even as hes dealt with some significant health challenges. The Philadelphia Phillies honored Baker for 50 years of service as the franchises PA announcer Friday in a ceremony where he to no surprise of anyone that has ever met him talked as much about his love for his family and the team as he did about himself. He served the same role for the Eagles for 29 years and now announces the games at Xfinity Live. Choate is the public address announcer at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown for the organizations Triple-A affiliate. Broadcasting, I love with all my heart, Baker said. And rather than lament what could have been or what should have been or woe is me, its How lucky am I to do this? Ive felt that my whole life. It wasnt too bad, Baker said, although he cant hear every single sound in his glass booth. For instance, Monday night when rain forced Game 3s postponement. Next day, Montanez walks up behind me on the field, taps me on the shoulder and with that big smile of his, says Montanez, Montanez., In the world of PA announcers in baseball, only two have had longer tenures, Pat Pieper, who worked 59 years for the Cubs (1916-74), and Bob Sheppard, a 57-year voice of the Yankees (1951-2007). 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB . He returned a year ago as eager and enthusiastic as ever. The names that I enjoy saying the most are the polysyllabic words, multiple syllables that lend themselves to a more melodic interpretation, Baker said after the pregame ceremony. Payroll Table 2023 Contracts Active Multi-Year Summary Positional Spending Prospects The Future Free Agents 2023 Player Option I cant talk quite as well as I could before, but I can get darned close.. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. In this particular game, Cole Hamels is in a jam, with runners on first and second and one out. "They let me know, whenever Im ready, and for however many games I think Im capable of announcing, theyd be glad to have me. Signing bonuses are typically prorated across the contract, but in some cases may have been paid at the time of signing. Our database includes earnings information for the states of Missouri and Illinois, St. Louis-area county and municipal governments, and more. He is the longest-tenured PA announcer in baseball, and as far as I can tell, any of the four major North American sports. There is something oddly specific about wanting to be a PA announcer. He has covered the team since 2010 while at The Philadelphia Inquirer, including a yearlong pause from baseball as a reporter on the city desk. Its his job to hear things at the ballpark others do not. Or Greg Lu-ZIN-ski., While hes driven to be accurate, he will make a mistake. I was so energized being back at the ballpark," he said. Depending upon the length of the elevator ride, hes miss one or two batters. The polysyllabic names.. He is a master of precision in following scripts. He deserves every, Before The Phillies Acquired Noah Syndergaard, They Were In On These Pitchers. They have prevented a recurrence of cancer. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Or write about sports? March 2, 2022. Eyewitness News sat down with the team's longtime public address announcer to talk about how he recently overcame cancer and reclaimed the microphone for his 50th Phillies season. "It's kind of a way of life," Baker said. He expected it to go into a pile somewhere. Baker even had the chance to shadow Sheppard considered the GOAT of PA announcers by many early in his career. The club opens its season at Citizens Bank Park against the. If the Phillies will have me, and God blesses me with good health, and I can continue to perform at a high level, Id like to take a shot at it, Baker said. Of course, Ive lost nothing of the enthusiasm, the knowledge of when to emote, when not to emote, when to talk, when not to talk, Baker said. Should The Phillies Have Beaten The Yankees Return For Frankie Montas? Baker stayed away from the game for the 2020 season because of health problems. Baker salaries in St. Louis County, MO can vary between $15,500 to $45,500 and depend on various factors, including skills, experience, employer, bonuses, tips, and more. His workstation for 81 games was the scoreboard control room on first-base side of the press level. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Charlie Manuel, 780-636, .551 W-L%, 2022 Phillies My gosh. In addition to announcing, Baker also operated the game-in-progress scoreboard of balls, strikes, outs, runs, hits and errors. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs were on the road. ), READ MORE: Bryce Harpers legend grows as he homers on first World Series pitch he sees at Citizens Bank Park. That voice belongs to Dan Baker. Before that, he was the public address announcer at Veterans Stadium for a generation. They were played in front of 45,000 empty seats. Realmuto," referring to the talented player who just joined the team in a trade. His dream was to be a Phillies broadcaster or public address announcer. "As long as I can talk well, as long as god blesses me with good health, as long as the Phillies will have me, I would like to continue doing the PA announcing.". His voice i. Matt Gelb is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Philadelphia Phillies. (Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils are pleased to host 'Fightin Cancer' Night at FirstEnergy Stadium on Wednesday, May 25th. Baker told CBS3 he has no plans to retire any time soon. Team Names: He has served as a public address announcer for five World Series, two Major League Baseball All-Star games, and three NFC . Before that, he broadcast Philadelphia BIG 5 Basketball games for 21 years while additionally serving as its executive director from 1981 to 1996. [6] At these appearances, Baker announces the game over the sports bar's PA system in exactly the same fashion as he would if he was announcing an actual Phillies home game. People groaned. At age 25, Baker began living his dream. Dan Baker, longest tenured PA announcer in Major League Baseball, on the field at Citizens Bank Park before Game 3 of the World Series. And you're right, Ross, it's a motivating factor that keeps me going. Baker was named to the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1997 and was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. Doctors took bone tissue from his leg and transplanted it in his face. Dan Baker has been the public address announcer at Citizens Bank Park for a generation. On occasion, hes gotten feedback from Phillies players. Philadelphia Phillies Multi-Year Payrolls Phillies Multi-Year Payrolls 2023 Payroll Table Active Contracts Multi-Year Spending Positional Spending Financial Summary 2023 Free Agents I have wonderful family and friends and associates. If theres an uncertain name thats part of the pregame festivities, hell seek the proper pronunciation when he arrives on the field. Phillies PA announcer Dan Baker talks . Phils Third Rounder Gabriel Rincones Jr. Bet On Himself On Path From Scotland, As Aaron Nola Puts Together Excellent Season, Long-Term Deal Should Be On The Radar Of The Phillies, Malvern Prep Grad Jordan Dissin Excited For Surreal Opportunity With Hometown Phillies, With Eflin Uncertainty, Starting Pitching Sounds Like The No. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Public address pro Dan Baker is ready to celebrate what will be his 50th season of Phillies baseball. Baker had the franchise's full support. (Courtesy of Justin Choate). 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