New role, same Murph
By: Philadelphia Phillies
Tags: Baseball, Phillies, MLB, Radio, Philadelphia

New role, same Murph

Gregg Murphy is enjoying his new gig as the weekend pre-game and post-game host on the Phillies Radio Network. Fans are too. Philadelphia Phillies Follow Jul 6 · 5 min read

Murph poses before his pre-game show broadcast on July 2.

Gregg Murphy cut to commercial and removed his headset to take a breather.

He was about halfway through the Phillies Radio Network’s pre-game show before the start of a weekend series with the Padres on July 2.

He spoke out loud, running through the rest of the show in the snug broadcast booth.

“The next three blocks are pre-recorded before I go back on live,” Murphy said.

“Segments,” color commentator Kevin Frandsen said abruptly. “You’re on radio now. They’re not blocks, they’re segments.”

As Frandsen held back a laugh, all Murphy could do was roll his eyes at his partner’s snark.

But it was a great example of the adjustments Murphy has had to make since since joining the Phillies’ radio broadcasting team in early April.

The fan-favorite TV host, formerly on NBC Sports Philadelphia, now hosts the Phillies’ pre-game and post-game shows Friday through Sunday.

“I haven’t done radio in a long, long time,” Murphy said. “So I’m kind of re-learning all of that. But it’s been great. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Murphy broadcasting the pre-game show on July 2.

It’s been fun for fans as well.

After a round of layoffs last year at NBC Sports Philadelphia’s parent company forced the departure of Murphy and sideline reporters in several other markets, fans adamantly called for his return right away. It was overwhelming.

“I was literally blown away by the reaction of the fans,” Murphy said. “You don’t really understand how you’ve connected with fans until something like that happens. It was humbling in so many ways.

“It just kind of makes you feel like, you know, these last 10 years, if it’s over, then at least you made some kind of impact.”

Murphy greeting fans at the 2017 tree lighting ceremony.

Murphy stayed in contact with his friends at the Phillies. They gave him a call in early April with an opportunity to return.

On April 13, play-by-play broadcaster Scott Franzke announced on air that Murphy would host on the pre-game and post-game shows for that day’s doubleheader against the Mets. The texts and tweets of congratulations were immediate.

Fast forward to last weekend.

When rain delays happen, the radio broadcast sometimes turns into a sports talk radio show as fans call in on air to voice their opinions to the broadcasters.

Murph fielded those calls, and more than two months into the new gig, plenty of them still started off with an altered version of the same sentiment.

“It’s so good to hear your voice, Murph!”

“Really happy you’re back, Murph.”

“Murph, we’ve missed you.”

Murphy and Frandsen in the broadcast booth.

“It really was one of the best parts of the job,” Murphy said. “Being in and around the fans all the time was just a lot of fun.”

As a South Jersey native and St. Joseph’s graduate, he grew up a Philly sports fan and lived his dream right away with his first on-air jobs in Allentown and Reading.

In an industry that often demands relocation, Murphy has truly never had to leave home. At the end of last year, staying home was the “most important” priority for him and his family.

“I don’t take that for granted one bit because I know just how lucky I’ve been to stay, not only in my hometown, but also in a town that appreciates sports the way this town does,” Murphy said. “You want others to be as excited as you are too. In this city, people are paying attention.”

Staying home means Murphy has had time for his family, including three kids. He traveled to Omaha in early June with his family to see his son, Matt, swim in the U.S. Olympic Trials. The Naval Academy athlete placed sixth overall in the first wave of the men’s 200-meter breaststroke.

“He’s been working toward the Olympic Trials his whole life,” Murphy said. “We got to see him swim in the finals and come out on TV with his name introduced. It was awesome.”

Murphy also keeps busy with a weekly podcast called “Glove Stories” in which he interviews Phillies alums and other baseball lifers, diving deeply into their best baseball stories. He started the series last year with a Phillies radio station affiliate and plans to keep it going as long as he can.