Dan Baker is the PA announcer for the Phillies. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire) Dan Baker has been the public address announcer at Citizens Bank Park for a generation. Before that, he was the public address announcer at Veterans Stadium for a generation. 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. 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 you've watched the team over the last half century, it's impossible not to think of how Baker introduced them as they walked to the plate. "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. 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. "Now batting for the Phillies, No. 12, second baseman, Mickey Morandini!" "Now batting for the Phillies, No. 53, right fielder, Bobby Abreu!" "Now batting for the Phillies, No. 19, left fielder, Greg Luzunski!" Baker says his understanding is that he's one of three PA announcers in MLB history to work 50 or more years for one franchise. Pat Piper has the record for 59 years at Wrigley Field. Bob Sheppard was the voice of Yankee Stadium for 56 years. Baker even had the chance to shadow Sheppard -- considered the GOAT of PA announcers by many -- early in his career. As far as how long he wants to continue being the voice at Citizens Bank Park, Baker says he wants to stay as long as the Phillies will have him, but will step aside if he feels he's doing a disservice to himself or the team. He's continued to perform at a high level into his mid-70s, even as he's dealt with some significant health challenges. Baker had his right cheekbone removed in August of 2020 during a procedure where a cancerous tumor was taken out of his sinus. At the time, doctors replaced his cheekbone with bone and tissue from the lower half of his left leg. Ultimately, Baker says that didn't take well, and it became infected. He missed the last homestand at Citizens Bank Park because he had to have the infected bone drilled down and replaced with skin from his left arm. Doctors believe they were able to get rid of most of the infection. Between that and daily antibiotics that he's getting in an IV in his right arm, the hope is that the infection will be eliminated altogether. Despite all the health obstacles that he's 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. "The Phillies have provided me with so much incentive. 'Man, I gotta get back here, I have a job to perform.' I can do some good for somebody, you know? If you've got like a mission in life, it really helps to motivate you and you can put aside any aches and pains or health issues. And rather than lament what could have been or what should have been or woe is me, it's 'How lucky am I to do this?' I've felt that my whole life. This is almost like a fairytale existence. And I'm still riding the horse!" MORE FROM PHILLIES NATION Phillies 2022 Walk-Up SongsBefore The Phillies Acquired Noah Syndergaard, They Were In On These PitchersShould The Phillies Have Beaten The Yankees’ Return For Frankie Montas?Phils’ Third Rounder Gabriel Rincones Jr. ‘Bet On Himself’ On Path From ScotlandAs Aaron Nola Puts Together Excellent Season, Long-Term Deal Should Be On The Radar Of The PhilliesMalvern Prep Grad Jordan Dissin Excited For ‘Surreal’ Opportunity With Hometown PhilliesWith Eflin Uncertainty, Starting Pitching Sounds Like The No. 1 Priority For The Phillies Ahead Of Trade DeadlineChase Utley Moving To London For New MLB RoleRookie Darick Hall Enjoying ‘Overwhelming’ Support As New Phils SluggerPete Rose To Appear At Citizens Bank Park During Alumni Weekend Phillies Nation Podcast · Phillies Nation Podcast: Did Phillies do enough at Trade Deadline?
