After 39 years and with 'a smile' on his face, FSU baseball veteran Chip Baker retires

The perfect retirement gifts for Chip Baker?

A red Sharpie permanent marker and napkin.

Baker – a trusted, familiar name and face in Florida State’s baseball program for the past 39 years – announced his retirement Thursday on social media.

The longtime Director of Baseball Operations and former third base coach under Mike Martin said he’s retiring with a "smile on his face." Baker described his time at FSU as a “great honor” and thanked Seminole coaches, players, staff, administrators and “the greatest fans anywhere.”

You name it, Baker did it for FSU baseball.

Nicknamed “Big Shooter” because that’s what he called everyone for years and “Chi-Bake (pronounced Chee)” by former players, Baker seemed to be everywhere.

He helped oversee the Seminoles’ baseball budget, travel, game operations, field maintenance, camps and much more. Baker was also in the radio and television booths during home games at Howser Stadium when needed. He befriended players, has thousands of contacts in his cell phone and was part of more than 2,000 FSU wins.

Baker was a legit hero, too.

In 2001, Baker and Martin famously steered the Seminoles’ team bus to safety in California when their driver died from a heart attack while at the wheel. The pair was awarded the university's Westcott Award for their bravery.

Chip Baker synonymous with Florida State baseball

Baker's retirement was a surprise publicly, but I suspect he was ready.

“He’s as synonymous as it gets with FSU baseball,” former FSU and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey told the Democrat.

“There’s really no way to accurately describe just how positively impactful he has been on the program as a whole. His presence will definitely be missed.”

Baker, all 5-foot-6 of him, was Seminole baseball from head to toe.

Even if he was a North Carolina native and began his coaching career at Virginia Tech.

Baker's daughter Katie played softball at FSU and was a manager on the national championship team in 2018.

He coached for Mike Martin starting in 1984; worked for Mike Martin, Jr. for three seasons; and for former Seminole and first-year coach Link Jarrett last season.

He spiked baseballs for FSU pitchers who recorded complete-game shutouts and for FSU’s football team when it goose-egged an opponent.

In 2014, Baker entered Florida State’s prestigious Circle of Gold for his service and commitment to the university’s tradition of excellence.

One of Baker’s favorite mementos is an 18X18 piece of metal from the back-in-the day tunnel built underneath Pensacola Street that connected FSU athletics with the football practice fields/Howser Stadium.

It’s autographed by legendary FSU football coach Bobby Bowden, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 91.

More: Early to bed, early to rise. Morning calls with Coach Bowden and Ann were special | Jim Henry

Martin, who retired following the 2019 season as the NCAA’s winningest coach in any sport, called Baker “Colonel” for how loyally he looked after FSU baseball. Baker neither boasted nor complained and always described his tenure with appreciation as "being around."

He always made it a point to say he was honored to be around great people and a great program.

“Chip did an awful lot for FSU baseball,” Martin told the Democrat.

“No task was too big and his loyalty never waned. (Wife) Carol and I want to wish him a happy retirement and a lot more quality time with (his daughter) Katie. All the best Big Shooter.”

Chip Baker's retirement announcement attracts an outpouring of love, support

Shortly after Baker’s announcement, there was an outpouring of love and support on social media from former FSU players and staff members.

Change is inevitable, right?

Another page is turning in FSU’s athletics department.

And baseball, too.

“Chip is one of the best baseball men I ever been around and even a better person,” Chicago Cubs manager and Tallahassee resident David Ross told the Democrat.

“He was one of the first coaching instructors I had and was ahead of his time with his knowledge. His feel for how to get the most out of the people he’s around is a gift. Baseball is better when he’s around. I am happy he had made this decision for himself and his family, but I know he still won’t be missing many games.”

Baker may have worked his best magic at FSU’s camps.

The sessions have attracted thousands of youth and high school-aged players from all over the country since he started directing the camps in 1980.

Baker didn’t play favorites either. When the younger brother of a former FSU starter missed curfew, Baker called his parents in Central Florida and sent him home.

Baker's camp to-do list was extra-innings long. And, if camp changes had be quickly made due to weather, venues or staffing, Baker pulled a red Sharpie from his pocket and scribbled the updated itinerary on a napkin.

“Chip never freelanced – he was always prepared, organized and had a plan,” said Chip Caldwell, who worked FSU’s baseball camps for 22 years. "We were always treated like family.

“Chip’s the best."

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Veteran Director of Baseball Operations Chip Baker retires from FSU