For 50 years, Baker has been the golden-voiced standard

PHILADELPHIA » The years have been kind to Dan Baker, the affable public address announcer celebrating his 50th season with the Phillies.

None of them, however, have been more special than this one for the 75-year-old Baker, who bounced back from multiple surgeries and radiation treatments to continue as the stadium voice of the Phillies.

Players past and present, club executives and staff, friends, fans, and area sports celebrities honored Baker Friday at Citizens Bank Park for those years of service, and in many ways, his courage. Taking in the ceremony among others were Bill Giles, who hired Baker in 1972, Larry Bowa, Rhys Hoskins, Steve Carlton, Charlie Manuel, “Video” Dan Stevenson and Big 5 coaching icons Jay Wright, Fran Dunphy and Phil Martelli.

There were video tributes from several colleagues, including Merrill Reese, in his 46th year with the Eagles.

That Baker is back on the job after medical issues wiped out his 2020 season, part of last season and a portion of this one seems like a miracle.

“Dan is remarkable,” Reese said. “He’s had his physical problems in the last couple of years, but he has not let that stop him or deter him in his work. The quality of his work is as high as ever. He’s somebody who loves the sports culture of Philadelphia. He loves the fans. And he never gives it less than 100 percent. A winning season, a losing season, when he does the lineups, when he brings each batter to the plate, he does it with the verve and the feeling of somebody announcing a World Series.”

Baker’s wife Cathy, who hails from Chester, and his daughter Courtney joined him for the event Friday. Each day they hear another story about Baker’s kindness. Everyone who has crossed paths with Baker has felt that power.

“He might be the nicest guy on the face of the Earth,” Phillies radio broadcaster Larry Anderson said. “If he’s not I’d like to meet who is.”

After the ceremony, Martelli, the current University of Michigan assistant coach and longtime Saint Joseph’s University head coach, echoed Anderson.

“To do something in this city for 50 years, and to do it in sports and no has ever said a bad word about him,” said Martelli, “I don’t want to be sacrilegious but that’s sainthood.”

Baker’s personal highlights include working five World Series games, including the final games of the 1980 and 2008 Phillies world championship series.

The graduate of Glassboro State (now Rowan University) counts among his highlight joining the late Harry Kalas on microphone for the closing ceremony of Veterans Stadium in 2003, and introducing President Gerald R. Ford at the 1976 MLB AllStar Game and President George W. Bush at the Army-Navy football game in 2003.

Baker hasn’t looked back since joining the Phillies in 1972.

Longtime WCAU Channel 10 sports producer Bill Werndl, who bumped into Barker regularly, called him “legendary.

“Dan is one of the finest people ever to work in our industry,” Werndl said. “He’s just a class act. There’s not a nicer person in this world than Dan Baker. Think about what he’s done. Millions of names on his plate, tough names and he just never makes a mistake. He puts in the work to get it right. He’s been through an awful lot with these operations. I’ve never heard him utter a complaint about it. Never.”

In 1982, Baker headed up the Big 5. There was a nail jutting out of the bleachers on press row at the Palestra, and this fledgling reporter found it with the seat of his pants. Cannot tell you which teams were playing that afternoon, just that when Baker heard about it, he introduced himself, had the nail removed, provided instructions on how to get emergency repairs to the pants and, oh, by the way, how much were those trousers? Baker pulled $60 out of his pocket. He apologized for the inconveniences and earned my respect for life.

What’s amazing about Baker is how he can say hello to everybody in the press box on his way into and out of the dining room and still have get back to his job, which he does with passion.

“I think he’s so authentic,” Wright said. “You’re not going to fool anybody in Philadelphia. Especially in Philadelphia sports. You’ve got to work hard at it, you’ve got to be talented, and he has all those things. He’s so passionate about the Phillies, and the Eagles, and Big 5 basketball. Everybody knew it.”

Baker told the crowd at Citizens Bank Park Friday night how much he enjoys coming to work and interacting with everyone from security to staff to fans and the players.

“I love this place,” Baker said. “The green grass, the city skyline, the dugouts, the Phillies players, the manager. I try to say hello to everybody. I’m so glad to be here. I’m a Phillies fan.”

What’s striking about Baker, who is always clad in a sport coat, is how he looks you in the eye, no matter the challenges ahead, and flashes the smile with the hello. It’s remarkable how he’s there in health and in sickness for Phillies players, fans and even the manager.

The only PA voices in baseball who have lasted longer than Baker are Pat Pieper (1916-74), who worked 59 years with the Chicago Cubs and Bob Sheppard (1957-2007), who spent 57 years with the New York Yankees.

Health permitting, Baker wants to take a run at the record, which would occur around age 85.

One thing is for sure … It just isn’t a Phillies home game without Dan Baker standing at home plate before the national anthem and saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, please rise as we honor … the United States of America!”