The Phillies felt it was important that he was visible, just not a voice that was heard out of stadium speakers. The job is difficult it requires late nights and fierce attention to detail. The game turned sloppy in the fourth inning. Ted sought out Baker, Dan, I loved your introduction when I came to bat. Baker had a script, taking fans inside the stadium and out on the sidewalk through the procedures in place. Baker has been the public address announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies since 1972 and was the public address announcer for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1985 to 2014. Phillies PA announcer Dan Baker talks . Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. After you have 24 surgeries and 30 radiation treatments, after a tumor is found in your right maxillary sinus, after you miss the 2020 season from all that, Baker will confirm, you feel especially blessed to still be at this. He is thankful for the doctors and nurses at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Wills Eye Hospital who he says have amazing in helping him get back to the ballpark. Dan Baker couldn't have hand-picked a better year to celebrate his 50th season as the in-stadium voice of the Philadelphia Phillies. Bob Sheppard announced for the Yankees for 57 years, and Pat Pieper announced Cubs games for 59 years. Number ten, catcher J Baker pauses. So, Choate had a free night. Dan Baker is a Philadelphia broadcasting legend best known as the voice of Veterans Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. On September 16, 2015, XFINITY Live! For me, what I do, is on full display and I just love doing it. Justin Choate, left, with Dan Baker. Payroll Table 2023 Contracts Active Multi-Year Summary Positional Spending Prospects The Future Free Agents 2023 Player Option First published on April 8, 2022 / 7:24 AM. AADOM Radio-THE Podcast For Dental Managers podcast episodes, Risk and Reels: A Cybersecurity Podcast podcast episodes, All About Affordable NFTs podcast episodes, We Are The Gayers | A Buffy Podcast podcast episodes, The Lorehounds: A Mandalorian Podcast podcast episodes, The Not Ready for Prime Time Podcast podcast episodes, The Movie Roulette Podcast podcast episodes, I Watch More Movies Than You podcast episodes, The House That Screams Horror Podcast podcast episodes, Weird, Together: Watching the Latest in Indie Horror Films podcast episodes. His pace is a bit slower as one might expect for a 75-year-old. He bought one ticket in the first row of Section 214. Legendary Phillies PA announcer Dan Baker joined us on the show this morning to talk about his legacy and favorite moments throughout his career. The voice of Citizens Bank Park! It is the topic of a daily pregame production meeting that includes Baker. 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. He is easy to spot on the field -- the best-dressed man, a virtual walking advertisement for Brooks Brothers. let us know if you find any errors, updates, or corrections, Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. "You know, this isn't the last one of these that I want to get you know if the Phillies will be so kind as to consider me for one for future championships.". Dan Baker has been the public address announcer at Citizens Bank Park for a generation. I wouldnt trade it for anything. Charlie Manuel, 780-636, .551 W-L%, 2022 Phillies I write sports columns focusing on colleges and Philly hoops. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs were on the road. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Growing up in Mt. Dan Baker (born September 22, 1946) is an American public address announcer best known for many years as the voice of Veterans Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. There was an infection, a six-week hospital stay, and subsequent radiation treatments. Baker was the radio announcer for Drexel University Dragons men's basketball on WNTP 990 AM from 1997 to 2012, after which he retired and became the team's public address announcer. When will the Phillies get City Connect uniforms? Before that, he broadcast Philadelphia BIG 5 Basketball games for 21 years while additionally serving as its executive director from 1981 to 1996. 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. 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 The voice was a new one to Phillies fans. The last game that was played without Pieper or Baker announcing games was the 1915 World Series on October 13, 1915.[4]. Team Names: 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. (Courtesy of Justin Choate), Dan Baker, pictured in 2017, has been the voice at the Phillies ballpark for 50 years. Unsigned players salaries are estimated based on the last three years of salary data: Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 1:07PM. Choate has no formal voice training. Who is he and where did he come from? Press the red button and his recognizable voice blares throughout the ballpark. Choate is the public address announcer at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown for the organizations Triple-A affiliate. Bats: Right Throws: Right. Hes still going, much like the Energizer rabbit. His voice i. You know, I like to emote. Bob Sheppard was 97 years old when he retired Im a kid! Baker stayed away from the game for the 2020 season because of health problems. "During the course of my illness Jeff, it was an inspiration for me to try to get back here and work hard, and get back doing the job that I love. He deserves every, Before The Phillies Acquired Noah Syndergaard, They Were In On These Pitchers. When he hired me, he said it was important to get it right and I immediately told him, Bill, if you hire me, Ill be the quickest and most accurate scoreboard operator in baseball, and for 32 years I was.. $700k for pre-arbitration, $2.3M for 1st-year arb, $4.17M for 2nd-year-arb, $5.98M for 3rd-year-arb, $7.36M for 4th-year-arb. During the summers of 1969-1971, he served as the PA announcer for Buddy Wagners Lucky Mustang Hell Drivers, a traveling auto daredevil show. Youre there to provide a service. He was then hit with an infection due to complications and was in the hospital for six weeks. I just love doing it.". All salary values are VERY unofficial. There was no doubt in my mind I was going to get back here.". The only thing that I know is Dan, Choate said. At the ballpark, Baker is famous for his graciousness. Baker, who has battled cancer and seen and heard almost everything during his tenure as the Phillies' PA announcer, is working his sixth World Series. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. I've felt that way since I was a kid.". Be authentic, Baker told him, and authentic in Choates mind was incorporating a nod to Baker. "I'm flattered to be connected with Phillies baseball. / by Dan Roche. In front of Baker is a microphone on a stand and a control box with a red button. They asked me, How many games do you think you can do? I said 81! Thats what Im shooting for.. His dream was to be a Phillies broadcaster or public address announcer. Try a week on us. He is paying it forward. Baker's voice spans multiple sports and stadiums in South Philadelphia. It required a 24-hour surgery to remove. There were 8,800 fans there, and they sounded like 30,000!. I try to do so when its appropriate. I felt bad, Baker said. Baker has been the public address announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies since 1972 and was the public address announcer for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1985 to 2014. Well, it was affected to some degree, in that, I also lost all the teeth in my upper right side, and I can only open my mouth about a third as wide as it should go, Baker said, sitting in an empty Hall of Fame Club at Citizens Bank Park about five hours before the first pitch. Or write about sports? Get box score updates on the New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies baseball game. The Phillies have been so encouraging and supportive through this process," Baker said. People groaned. If you speak too fast, the fans wont understand what you are saying.. As the world inches toward normalcy in 2021, Phillies games are being played in front of fans again. Baker says his understanding is that hes one of three PA announcers in MLB history to work 50 or more years for one franchise. 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. I love being at the games," he said. The Phillies have only been to eight.. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It's the familiar iconic voice Philadelphia Phillies fans have heard echo at the team's home games for nearly five decades. Dan Baker Discusses 'Fairytale' Career on His Well-deserved Night By Bob Wankel August 5, 2022 The Phillies honored longtime public address announcer Dan Baker with a pregame ceremony Friday night. Dan Baker, longest tenured PA announcer in Major League Baseball, on the field at Citizens Bank Park before . A double, a single, then a throwing error on a stolen base. Andrew Baker. I can just sit in the stands and enjoy everything that baseball offers.. [7] Baker continued as the public address announcer for the Phillies. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Players With Guaranteed Contracts (does not include players with options), Maximum value of options if all are exercised, Rough estimated value of all arbitration cases, Buyouts are always shown when years are options (. A very lucky break. ), READ MORE: Bryce Harpers legend grows as he homers on first World Series pitch he sees at Citizens Bank Park. "I have much in common with Phillies fans. Theyre terrific young people. Dan Baker is the longest-tenured public address announcer in Major League Baseball. Or Greg Lu-ZIN-ski., While hes driven to be accurate, he will make a mistake. Baker doesn't plan to retire with only two World Series rings. My gosh. The weather doesn't officially break until you hear Dan Baker's voice piping out of CBP. (87-75, 3rd place in NL East). There wasnt much idle time. But as Ive gotten older, thats kind of what Ive realized.. They sat in right field. 2022 edition. 27, Willie McCovey. I was embarrassed. Concisely. Baker added: To be able to have a position like this in an organization that you love, that stands by you, and youre happy to be there, it is just the best. Do you have a sports website? With that announcement, Dan Baker became the voice of Phillies games at Veterans Stadium. Coordination was needed in entertaining fans. [2][3] He has served as a PA voice for five World Series (1980, 1983, 1993, 2008 and 2009), 50th Congrats. 19, left fielder, Greg Luzunski!. Pieper from 1916 to 1974 and Baker from 1972present. I know we arent the big names, but we should get equal treatment. I really didnt think I did it, but was appreciative of the feedback. I was so energized being back at the ballpark," he said. Baker did not announce during the 2020 season after being diagnosed with sinus cancer. With the move to Citizens Bank Park, the scoreboard and public address jobs became separate roles. "If the Phillies will have me and God blesses me with good health, and continue to perform at a high level, I want to set the record," Baker tells Skversky. How lucky have I been to find a home with the Philadelphia Phillies more than 50 years ago?. The Phillies offered him the right to reclaim the role he's had since 1972 when he was ready. After you have cancer, its something that you monitor for the rest of your life, basically, Baker said. On May 7, 2014, the Eagles announced that Baker would no longer serve as their public address announcer, citing that they decided to make a change in the role. We also had some fun and had Dan announce our "walk-ups" as if we were on the Phillies. 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. He is the longest-tenured PA announcer in baseball, and as far as I can tell, any of the four major North American sports. Draft: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 16th round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft from Chipola College (Marianna, FL) and the Philadelphia Phillies in the 11th round of the 2021 . "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. He loves that Cameron, his 4-year-old son, has an interest in baseball. To be able to live the life that I have and announce the Phillies for 50 years. 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. 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. It feels like, Choate said, theres something missing.. Phillies' legendary Public Address announcer Dan Baker is the longest tenured PA announcer in the MLB. I absolutely love those people. 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 hes doing a disservice to himself or the team. Many people ask this question about the money Dan Baker (PA announcer) makes from Twitter. In this particular game, Cole Hamels is in a jam, with runners on first and second and one out. Did Baker hear the boos from the concourse? Hes seen some things, heard some things. [3], Between Baker and former Chicago Cubs' public address announcer Pat Pieper, the 2020 MLB season will mark 104 consecutive seasons that one of them has been announcing games. However, after treatment, including radiation therapy and surgery, he returned the following year.[8]. 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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. For instance, Monday night when rain forced Game 3s postponement. But those treatments make Baker vulnerable to infection. I was so proud and so touched by the outpouring of affection, by the sincerity, and the kind remarks that were made by Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, Greg Luzinski, Jay Wright, Fran Dunphy, Bruiser Flint and Phil Martelli, Baker explained. Current Public Address announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies going into my 45th season! Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. I think people sensed it was going to happen.. And, Baker said, luckily, my voice wasnt affected that much.. By the end of the season, he will have announced 4,000 Phillies games and 300,000 batters hes said the names of almost 20 percent of all major-league hitters to ever take an at-bat. (Hunter Martin / Getty Images), Dan Bakers letter of recommendation. Matt Gelb is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Philadelphia Phillies. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. This is my sixth World Series. * - This is not intended as an accurate payroll accounting for current. Many people ask this question about the money Dan Baker (PA announcer) makes from Facebook. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. On occasion, we have estimated arbitration eligibility. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phillies public address announcer was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. Depending upon the length of the elevator ride, hes miss one or two batters. Does Baker, now 76, see himself shooting for tops on the all-time list. The Philadelphia Phillies welcome you to Citizens Bank Park," Baker says before every home game. That voice belongs to Dan Baker. A. Baker 1-0. 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. I dont want them to feel a sense of sympathy, necessarily. 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