August 06, 2026
Bill Streicher/USA Today via Reuters Connect
South Jersey resident Louis Kalb joined the Phillies radio broadcast for the third inning of the team's 10-4 loss to the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Above, Andrew Painter pitches in the game.
A substitute teacher from South Jersey effortlessly slid into the Phillies radio broadcast Wednesday night to call the third inning as the prize for winning one of the team's annual charity auctions.
On an otherwise tough night for the Phils, who fell 10-4 to the Nationals in extra innings, Medford Lakes resident Louis Kalb aced his appearance in the booth alongside Scott Franzke and Larry Anderson. The game was broadcast on SportsRadio 94WIP.
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"A muggy night here at the Bank," Kalb observed. "We had some heavy rain. In fact, we got a little wet coming in about five o'clock. It's taken me about two hours to dry off, but fortunately, just in time to step into the booth."
Phillies auction winner calls the 3rd inning on the radio... and did a pretty great job
— Nick Piccone (@_piccone) August 6, 2026
Top of the 3rd... pic.twitter.com/0rOkUQogDo
The Phillies have held their Phantastic Auction for the last 14 years, giving out prizes that include signed memorabilia and chances to attend events alongside players. The broadcast opportunities have included both TV and radio appearances. They're largely forgettable and sometimes awkward, but Kalb had the flow and spirit of a man who absorbed Harry Kalas' rhythm for decades.
The inning wasn't all that notable, so Kalb had a chance to ad-lib a bit and fill in the empty spaces. The lakes in Medford Lakes are "filled to capacity" after yesterday's rainfall, Kalb said, noting a recent drought.
Kalb won this year's radio broadcast auction with a bid of $22,010, and the Phantastic Auction as a whole generated $417,455 in proceeds. The benefits support Phillies Charities, Inc., which supports nonprofits throughout the region, and ALS United Mid-Atlantic.
"It's turning into a nice evening here," Kalb said toward the end of the inning. "We can certainly see the skyline of Philadelphia in the distance."
It's not easy to fit naturally into a live broadcast with no prior experience and balance calling the game with engaging commentary on the atmosphere. But if you're going to make a donation roughly equivalent to the cost of a Hyundai Venue, it's an accomplishment to walk away from the experience leaving fans wanting more.
