Lewis Kalb, a 73-year-old retiree from Medford Lakes, N.J. joined the Philadelphia Phillies radio booth Wednesday night and called live play-by-play during the third inning of a game against the Washington Nationals — fulfilling what he described as a lifelong dream.
Kalb secured the opportunity through the Phillies' Phantastic Auction, bidding $22,000. The money went directly to the Phillies' charitable initiatives.
He sat between veteran broadcasters Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen for his segment, taking the mic as the Nationals came to bat in the top of the third.
Despite no professional broadcasting background, Kalb drew immediate praise. Fans and media observers called his performance fantastic and amazing, with many pushing for him to call future games.
The Phillies raised $22,000 and handed a loyal fan an experience he'll never forget. Kalb's composure and baseball knowledge did the rest — turns out passion and decades of paying attention can carry an inning.
