Lewis Kalb from Medford Lakes, New Jersey, got to live out a lifelong dream to do play-by-play during the third inning of the Nationals-Phillies game on Wednesday night.
And it sounded like he had been calling Phillies games on the radio for years.
You never know what’s going to happen when a fan steps into the broadcast booth after winning an auction, raffle, or charity opportunity. Kalb was the winning bidder in the Phillies Phantastic Auction to step into the radio booth with Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen. And after listening to Kalb call the third inning, they may want to tread carefully regarding their future job status.
Just listen to this commentary, and it sounds like you’re taken back to a simpler time when baseball games were meant to be heard on the radio. This sounds like it comes from the same generation as Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell, Marty Brennaman, and so many other iconic voices. You were half expecting Steve Carlton or Mike Schmidt to show up at any moment.
Phillies auction winner calls the 3rd inning on the radio… and did a pretty great job
Top of the 3rd… pic.twitter.com/0rOkUQogDo
— Nick Piccone (@_piccone) August 6, 2026
And judging by the reaction from social media, Phillies fans would welcome a return from Lewis Kalb to the broadcast booth anytime.
There is no freaking way that was this guy’s first time doing this
Talk about making the most of your opportunity and seizing it https://t.co/G3NMhRtgiN
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) August 6, 2026
Dude is too nice with it. Them other boys in the booth better than me. He is coming for their job. A real hater would have unplugged his mic. 🤣 https://t.co/mmsUG14veQ
— Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) August 6, 2026
Nothing can prepare you for how this guys voice sounds
What a natural https://t.co/eFgUEpoAaB
— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) August 6, 2026
This guy was awesome https://t.co/510pCBPL4j
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) August 6, 2026
This guys voice sounds like he was born to be in a baseball radio booth, my man auction bid on his calling https://t.co/RW1Oz7yKMd
— Life of a Philly Fan (@PhillyFanLife) August 6, 2026
This dude has the voice AND the play by play chops! Very impressive. He said “Painter from the belt…” and I lost it 🤣🤣 https://t.co/Ih7cdqltYv
— Mike Meech (@meechone) August 6, 2026
This guy won an AUCTION?!?
Unbelievable.
Ridiculously natural. https://t.co/BrEakSb5uc
— Kevin Shockey (@KevinShockey) August 6, 2026
How awesome is it for Kalb to be able to live out a dream like this of calling an inning of Phillies baseball and absolutely crush it? He definitely sounds like he has plenty of broadcast experience, and it wasn’t his first rodeo. And who knows, maybe the Phillies will invite him back in the future because he sounded just that good. And if not the Phillies, then another Major League Baseball franchise needs to give him a call because he sounds like someone who was born to call baseball on the radio.
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