MEDFORD LAKES — For one unforgettable inning, former South Jersey radio personality Lewis Kalb went from lifelong Phillies fan to Major League Baseball broadcaster — and by the time he stepped out of the booth, thousands of listeners were asking the same question:
Why isn't this guy calling games professionally?
Kalb, a Medford Lakes resident who once worked on South Jersey radio under the air name Sean Roberts, won the opportunity to broadcast an inning of a Philadelphia Phillies game after placing the winning bid in the team's annual Phantastic Auction, a fundraiser benefiting Phillies Charities and ALS United Mid-Atlantic. The winning bid for the radio experience totaled $22,010.
The experience fulfilled a dream decades in the making.
Speaking on WOND's The Don Williams Show the day before taking the microphone at Citizens Bank Park, Kalb could hardly contain his excitement.
"I know we're both Philly fans," Kalb told Williams. "There was a charity auction, and one of the prizes was to announce an inning on the Phillies radio broadcast. So that will be me tomorrow night."
"I'm actually going to be in the Phillies broadcast booth announcing the third inning," he said. "I hope you will tune in and see how I do."
Kalb even hoped he might have the chance to describe the first Phillies hit by newly acquired infielder Luis Arraez.
"Maybe I'll get to call his first hit as a Phillie if he doesn't get a hit tonight," he said. "It could possibly be in my inning."
Instead, Kalb ended up delivering something even more memorable.
Paired with veteran Phillies broadcasters Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen during the top of the third inning against Washington, Kalb impressed listeners with polished play-by-play, insightful baseball knowledge and a rich, professional broadcasting voice that many assumed belonged to a longtime major league announcer.
Within minutes, clips from the broadcast spread across social media, generating millions of views and praise from baseball fans across the country.
Posts on Reddit and X described Kalb as "born to call baseball," while others joked the Phillies should hire him immediately. One fan wrote, "Nothing can prepare you for how this guy's voice sounds."
The national attention surprised many listeners who didn't realize Kalb already had years of broadcasting experience.
Before his appearance on the Phillies radio network, Kalb spent time behind the microphone in South Jersey radio, working as Sean Roberts on Lucky 99 in the 1980s.
During his conversation with Williams, he fondly recalled those days and thanked WOND personality Stuart Abrams for inviting him to participate in the station's "Yesterday Once More" reunion program.
"We had a great time," Kalb said. "It was such a great event, and I am so thankful that Stu put that together."
Williams congratulated his former colleague on the opportunity.
"That's good," Williams said. "Well, that was excitement."
The conversation then shifted to the Phillies' playoff hopes, with Kalb expressing optimism following the club's trade deadline additions.
"I think just getting in, the Phillies can make some noise," he said. "Baseball is a crapshoot. You get in and anything can happen."
He also praised the acquisition of three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and additional bullpen help, saying the moves should strengthen the club for a postseason run.
For Kalb, however, the biggest moment came the following night.
What began as a charity auction prize became one of baseball's most talked-about feel-good stories of the week, turning a former South Jersey broadcaster's lifelong dream into a viral national moment.
"I hope you will tune in and see how I do," Kalb said before the broadcast.
By the time the inning ended, baseball fans across the country had their answer.
About the Author
Scott Stephens
Scott has been an on-air personality, producer and newscaster for 30+ years. He has been a mainstay in the South Jersey Community and on the air across many different area stations. Scott can currently be heard on Kool 98.3 and News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.
