Philly Radio: Gregg Murphy Returns To Call MLB Phillies

Gregg Murphy has returned to broadcasting Phillies games, switching from television to radio, reports The Philadelphia Business Journal.

The veteran broadcaster made an impromptu appearance in between games of the team’s doubleheader against the New York Mets on Tuesday. A Phillies spokeswoman said Murphy will have a part-time role most weekends on the Phillies Radio Network as host of the pre-game and postgame shows for Friday, Saturday and Sunday games.

Play-by-play man Scott Franzke and rotating color commentators Larry Andersen and Kevin Frandsen will continue in those roles, as well as handle pre-game and postgame duties during the week.

The Phillies have not replaced Jim Jackson, who said in October that he was dropped from the team’s radio broadcasts after a 14-year run due to financial constraints. When his duties as Flyers television play-by-play announcer did not conflict, Jackson took on Phillies pre-game and postgame responsibilities and filled in for Franzke during the middle innings of home games.

Murphy will essentially take on part of Jackson’s old role. Quietly, though, Rob Brooks, the Phillies broadcasting manager, has handled middle innings play-by-play during home games this season, thus filling the other part of Jackson's duties.

Murphy served as the on-field reporter for NBC Sports Philadelphia on Phillies telecasts for 12 years. In his role, he reported from the field, dugouts, and elsewhere throughout the ballpark during games. He also took on occasional play-by-play duties with Tom McCarthy was called away to national basketball or football duties by CBS.

In August, Murphy was one of 17 NBC Sports Philadelphia employees laid off by the regional sports network as part of broader cuts by parent company NBCUniversal. NBCU did away with sideline reporter roles at all of its regional sports networks, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic eliminating their ability to have access to players and coaches.

Murphy, a 1993 St. Joseph's University graduate who lives in South Jersey, also sells residential real estate through The Murphy Group, which is affiliated with Weichert Realtors. But last month he dipped his toe back into the broadcasting world by starting a weekly podcast called Glove Stories with Murph, where he has so far conducted interviews with Mike Schmidt, Charlie Manuel, Larry Bowa, Mickey Morandini, Brett Myers as well as several journalists and broadcasters who cover the team.

Radio broadcasters are Phillies employees while television broadcasters are technically employees of NBC Sports Philadelphia.