Dan Baker deserves Phillies Wall of Fame honor

Die-hard baseball fans know that there are many facets to the enjoyment of our pastime when we head out to our favorite Major League Baseball facility. The sights, smells, and sounds experienced at a game from warm late winter days and nights in Arizona and Florida, through spring and summer, on out to the cold mid-fall postseason drama at ballparks across the country is unlike any other sport.

In Philadelphia, those include the open-air beauty of Citizens Bank Park, the joyful antics of the Phillie Phanatic, the smell and taste of cheesesteaks grilled up at Campo’s and Tony Luke’s out on Ashburn Alley, and, of course, the winning play of our Fightin’ Phils.

From the second season of Veterans Stadium in 1972 on through to today at Citizens Bank Park, there has been another welcome sound greeting, informing, and entertaining Phillies fans. That would be the buoyant sounds of public address announcer Dan Baker’s voice coming over the loudspeakers.

Baker was just 25-years old on the evening of Monday, April 27, 1972, when that voice first addressed the fans in a regular season game at The Vet. The first player name that he got to introduce was that of a legendary Hall of Famer: “Leading off for the Saint Louis Cardinals, number 20, left fielder Lou Brock!” In the bottom of the inning, it would be a legendary Phillies Wall of Famer: “Leading off for the Phillies, number 10, shortstop Larry Bowa!”

A local guy, Baker was born in Philly and raised across the Delaware River in nearby Mount Ephraim, New Jersey. He graduated from Audubon High School in Camden County, earned a degree from Glassboro State (now Rowan), and earned his master’s degree at Temple University.

Baker was asked by Matteo Iadonisi of local television station 6ABC here in Philadelphia about when his interest in the Phillies was first sparked. “Probably since 1954 when my father first took me to a Phillies baseball game at Connie Mack Stadium. It was love at first sight.”

“The smell of the hot dogs, the cigar smoke, the popcorn, and the excitement,” as Baker described the experience to Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s just people enjoying themselves, and that’s like heaven to me.”

When baseball returned to the field in July of 2020 following a four-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, Baker’s voice was not to be heard at the ballpark for the first time in 49 years. A tumor was found in his right maxillary sinus, requiring dozens of surgeries and radiation treatments.

Baker returned for the 2021 season and has resumed his omnipresence at the ballpark, making player introductions, advertising, and other announcements, and acting as emcee for most special events.

In November of 2022 for the sixth time in his career, Baker got to address the Philly crowds in a World Series. He has announced the names of many of the teams greats in the Fall Classic, from Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton to Pete Rose and Joe Morgan, John Kruk and Darren Daulton to Curt Schilling and Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to Aaron Nola and Bryce Harper.

Last January, Baker was honored by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association with its Most Courageous Athlete of 2022 award, which is presented to a sports figure who performed at a high level, faced a challenge, and then successfully returned to resume performing at that high level.

The sports writers also honored him with a Career Achievement Award, recognizing his 50 years as our “familiar ballpark companion”, as Jack McCaffery of the Daily Times so affectionately and appropriately described him.

Having turned 77-years of age this past September, Baker would need to continue as the Phillies PA announcer for another nine years, into the club’s 2032 campaign when he would be 85, in order to break the late Pat Pieper’s record of service with the Chicago Cubs from 1916-74.

“If God blesses me with good health and if the Phillies will have me and if I can still perform at a high level, I’d need another 10 more years,” he told McCaffrey. “So, if all of those things line up, I’d be honored to make a run at it.”

The Philadelphia Phillies organization should not wait that long to grant Dan Baker his next deserved honor, a plaque on the Phillies Wall of Fame.

Eligibility is listed at the franchise website as follows: “Phillies executives, players, managers, and coaches with four or more years of service are eligible. With rare exception, all candidates must be retired for three years before they can be eligible for the ballot. Consideration is given to longevity, ability, character, and contributions to the Phillies and baseball, plus special achievements.”

Baker may not have been an executive, player, manager, or coach. But he has been an integral part of the Phillies game experience for fans of multiple generations. My late grandfather, a diehard Phillies fan who first attended games in the 1920’s at Baker Bowl and who has been gone to watch now at that great ballpark in the sky since 1992, was informed by Baker for two decades at Veterans Stadium. And my grandson, now 15, has been informed by Baker at Citizens Bank Park. I have enjoyed that experience for every one of Baker’s now 51 years.

His has has been the host voice for most Phillies Wall of Fame induction ceremonies. With over a half-century of longevity with the franchise, clearly demonstrated ability over decades, character that has never been questioned, and with contributions and special achievements galore in that time, Dan Baker is most deserving of being hosted by someone else for a change.

“You know, I can’t smile…because of the muscle nerve damage,” he told Iadonisi. “But gosh darn, I can talk. And I’m going to keep on talking as long as the Phils will have me.”

The Phillies will surely have him around for as long as he can physically continue. Before that time comes, while he can still fully enjoy the experience, Dan Baker should receive the franchise’ highest honor.