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‘Courageous’ Dan Baker reflects on health challenges, says he wants to announce for another decade

Dan Baker was the recipient of the 2022 Most Courageous Award by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Dan Baker’s path back to his “happy place” wasn’t easy.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phillies public address announcer was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. He underwent surgery for 24 hours to remove a tumor from his right sinus on August 12, 2020. He endured around two dozen additional procedures, including many cosmetic surgeries, to reconstruct his cheek bone. He’s lost nearly all of the vision in his right eye.

Cancer forced him to step away from his passion in 2020, but it surely wasn’t going to keep him out for much longer.

Fresh off of calling his sixth World Series, Baker, 76, was named the “Most Courageous in Sports” figure for 2022 by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association on Monday.

Does he consider himself courageous? Definitely not.

“No. I mean, I work hard,” Baker said at the DoubleTree Hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. “I kind of feel like I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. I love life. I wanted to be back with my family. I wanted to resume my career. And for all those things to happen, I had to do what the doctors told me.”

A couple hours before the organization’s annual banquet, Baker also reminisced on his storied career so far and his aspirations for the future.

Baker, who has announced everything from Philadelphia Blazers hockey to Amy-Navy football games, wants to be the Phillies PA announcer for another 10 years. He’s the third-longest tenured public address announcer in the history of baseball, behind the Cubs’ Pat Piper (1916-1974) and the Yankees’ Bob Sheppard (1951-2007).

“One of my goals is to surpass them, if possible,” Baker said.

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He’s not that far behind. 2023 will be year 51 for Baker. He’s best known for his enthusiasm, kindness and passion for the craft he has perfected. Every call matters to Baker. He was happy to share that day what he was working on this offseason:

Now batting for the Phillies No. 7, shortstop Trea Turner.

To get back behind the microphone after surgery, Baker went to speech therapy daily. The Phillies wanted him back and were willing to give him a lighter schedule in case he needed it, but Baker said he wanted to do “all of the games.”

Before the 2021 season, the Phillies wanted Baker to come in and get reaccustomed to the job.

“It was kind of like an audition,” Baker said. “I performed very well. They told me that some of the front office employees had tears in their eyes when they heard how good I sounded and knew that I would be able to resume the PA announcing. I was so grateful for their encouragement and support all the way through.”

All that hard work culminated in Baker calling his sixth World Series as the Phillies PA announcer. This one wasn’t particularly special for Baker considering the challenges along the way. They’re all special. Really for Baker, every day he gets to walk through the doors of Citizens Bank Park is a blessing.

“Just walking in to the ballpark was energizing to me. To see my coworkers and to see Phillies front office employees and security guards and fans, I’ve always loved being at the ballpark. The Phillies home ballpark was always my happy place.”