Longtime Phillies PA announcer Dan Baker misses first games in 15 years

Fans who made it to Citizens Bank Park over the weekend got to see two Phillies wins, but missed out on hearing the iconic voice of longtime public address announcer Dan Baker.

Baker, 72, the Phillies’ public address announcer since 1972, missed the Saturday and Sunday games while undergoing precautionary medical observations, according to his agent, who didn’t disclose the issue. Phillies director of public affairs and former 6ABC sports anchor Scott Palmer filled in for Baker both days.

Agent Josh Weinfeld said Baker is expected to return sometime this week, perhaps as soon as the Phillies’ Tuesday night home game against the Detroit Tigers. On Twitter, Baker sounded optimistic that he’d be back sooner rather than later.

“I’m feeling better and expect to be back real soon!” Baker wrote Sunday.

The two games were the first Baker has missed since the Phillies moved to Citizens Bank Park back in 2004. Over Baker’s 47-year tenure, he’s missed a grand total of 17 games.

“I want to send a quick get-well message to Dan Baker,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler told reporters after Saturday’s win. “It wasn’t the same not hearing his voice out there.”

Baker was also the public address announcer for the Eagles for 29 years (where he never missed a game), but was replaced before the 2014 season.

Baker wasn’t the only voice missing from Sunday’s 5-1 win over the Marlins. NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst and Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt missed his normal spot in the broadcast booth to attend his annual Winner’s Circle Invitational Tournament charity event in the Bahamas over the weekend.

Schmidt, 69, has had his slate of games reduced to Sunday home games this season. In previous years, he called both Saturday and Sunday home games.

Schmidt has been calling Phillies games on NBC Sports Philadelphia since 2014. While he remains a fan favorite, he’s faced a few bumps in the road as a broadcaster, and has been forced to apologize for comments he’s made on and off the broadcast, including last year when a joke about his wife went awry.

Before Sunday’s game, the Phillie Phanatic celebrated his 41st birthday. Slugger Bryce Harper marked the occasion by giving the league’s best mascot the perfect gift — a new pair of cleats based on the pair he wore during his Phillies debut earlier this season.

The Phanatic made his debut with the Phillies on April 25, 1978, at Veterans Stadium against the Chicago Cubs. The Phanatic replaced Philadelphia Phil and Phillis — siblings dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms and tricornered hats.