For two decades, Mike Bauer and Vanessa Ramirez have helped define the energy inside Chase Field. In honor of their 20th season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, we caught up with the in-game duo to talk unforgettable moments, behind-the-scenes chaos, family, friendship, and the journey fans may not fully see.
Vanessa, before the Diamondbacks, you were on reality TV…
Vanessa: Yes. I was on Love in the Wild on NBC hosted by Jenny McCarthy. We filmed in the Dominican Republic doing jungle challenges with cameras following us everywhere. It was definitely one of the most random experiences of my life.
Mike, you grew up a Cubs fan. Was becoming a Diamondbacks fan hard?
Mike: I had already abandoned my childhood team and was fully rooting for the Diamondbacks every game. Apparently they already had Vanessa in their back pocket though; she got hired first.
Did either of you think this would turn into 20 years?
Vanessa: Absolutely not. I thought maybe one season.
Mike: Same. I honestly didn’t even know this job existed when I auditioned.
Vanessa, you basically predicted this career before it happened.
Vanessa: I was sitting in the upper deck at a game years ago and pointed at the host saying, “I could do that job.” Somehow that became reality.
What’s something fans don’t realize about the job?
Mike: It’s chaos. We’re constantly moving. In baseball, you don’t tell time by minutes; you tell time by outs.
Most chaotic live moment?
Vanessa: Kids running the wrong direction during races.
Mike: Microphones dying. Fans walking through live shots. You just adapt.
Vanessa, your dad was a huge supporter of your career.
Vanessa: My parents were everything to me. My dad came to so many games and proudly told everyone I was “the D-Backs girl.” Losing him to non-smoker’s lung cancer changed me.
You turned that loss into something meaningful.
Vanessa: I started Breathe to Believe to support cancer organizations because I didn’t want to sit in grief.
What moment during this 20th season hit emotionally?
Vanessa: Thinking about what my dad would say seeing this milestone.
Mike, how has becoming a dad changed things for you?
Mike: There are times I legitimately miss my family. My wife and I both work, and during baseball season there are stretches where outside of daycare drop-off, we barely see each other.
Favorite part of the job after all these years?
Mike: Watching little kids walk into a Major League stadium for the first time.
Vanessa: The relationships. We’ve watched Arizona families grow up with us.
Biggest surprise of your career?
Vanessa: Getting a National League Championship ring!
Mike: That recognition from the organization meant everything.
Another 20 years?
Vanessa: As long as they’ll have us.
Mike: We’re not going anywhere.