A Grand Slam Evening with Tom McCarthy!

On Thursday, June 12th, our Masonic Lodge had the distinct honor of hosting Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster, Tom McCarthy, for a truly memorable evening. The night kicked off with a delicious spread of Philly Phavorites, including classic Tomato Pie, Cheese Steaks, Sausage and Peppers, Pierogis, French Fries, refreshing Rita's Water Ice, and of course, pretzels.

In recognition of our esteemed guest, and reflecting his deep connection to community and baseball, we were proud to announce a donation made on his behalf to the Miracle League of Mercer County (MLMC).

MLMC is a recognized 501c3 organization dedicated to providing fully inclusive baseball programs to individuals with special needs. Established in September 2005, MLMC began by serving more than 200 individuals with disabilities and involving over 1,000 volunteers from throughout Mercer County and its surrounding areas. It was the 15th Miracle League to come into existence in the United States, and the first in the entire Northeast. The organization provides unique, fun experiences for its athletes 12 months per year, relying on generous sponsors and donors to build a positive, inclusive environment for children with disabilities and the entire community. Their programs focus on participation and inclusion rather than competition, with every player batting, rounding bases, and scoring each inning in one-hour, non-competitive games. The specially designed, ADA-accessible Miracle Field in Hamilton, New Jersey, features a flat synthetic turf with painted bases, ensuring a barrier-free surface for all players. Our donation is helping fund a new scoreboard for the Miracle Field of Dreams.

Tom McCarthy, currently in his 25th year in Major League Baseball broadcasting, captivated the audience with insights into his career and the world of baseball. He humbly shared that his journey into broadcasting was quite an "accident".

The True "Accidental" Start to Broadcasting

McCarthy's path into broadcasting began in unexpected ways. Initially, as an 18-year-old, he went to college to play baseball but was cut six months later. Unsure of his path, he began writing for the Trenton Times, covering sports, which made him realize he could "be in sports in some way, shape or form and get paid for it". His direct entry into broadcasting came when he was invited by Marc Narducci to discuss high school sports on a local WIP show. After the show, Tom Bigby, who ran WIP, told McCarthy he had a "pretty good voice" and should "do this for a living".

His first play-by-play opportunity arose with the Charleston Rainbows, a minor league team, where he called an inside-the-park home run for Cliff Floyd. He used this tape to secure his job with the Trenton Thunder in 1994, where he eventually rose to the position of Vice President. Though he was on the cusp of a major career shift, driving to sign a contract to become president of a minor league team in Lakewood, New Jersey, this earlier foundation solidified his true calling to be a broadcaster.

The Unwitting Emmy Win

Later that same September in 2000, Tom was filling in on radio for the Philadelphia Phillies' pre- and post-game show at the Vet, essentially auditioning for the role. Many of the usual broadcasters were attending the Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards that night. While delivering what he thought was a "really good show" and reading scoreboard updates, he noticed his boss standing behind him with an "angry look on his face".

To his shock, his boss revealed, "the Emmy awards were tonight... You won". McCarthy was genuinely stunned, having "didn't think there was a chance in hell" he would win, especially being nominated against prominent figures like Harry Kalas and Marc Zumoff. The Emmy was for his work on "minor league games," specifically play-by-play. He attributes this unexpected victory, along with his sheer desire for the position, as a significant factor in him securing the Phillies broadcasting job in 2001, even though it didn't initially guarantee him any play-by-play duties.

The Return to the Phillies from the Mets

McCarthy shared a deeply personal story about his return to the Phillies organization, which he considers "one of the greatest decisions I ever made in my life". Despite growing up a Mets fan and taking a job with them for two years, he found himself "longing for the Phillies" due to the family-like atmosphere of the organization. In 2007, David Montgomery, the Phillies' former owner and president—whom McCarthy describes as an "incredible guy"—personally intervened to bring him back to Philadelphia. Despite McCarthy being in the middle of a five-year contract with the Mets and feeling it would be disloyal, Montgomery insisted, even calling McCarthy's wife to help persuade him.

His return to Philadelphia in 2008 culminated in the Phillies winning the World Series. McCarthy vividly recounted being in the radio booth, pressed against the wall, with the "perfect view" of Harry Kalas making his famous last out call and Scott Franzke's reaction. He still gets "chills now even thinking about it".

Calling Roy Halladay's Perfect Game

McCarthy identified Roy Halladay's perfect game as his favorite professional moment in sports. He described the intense "adrenaline rush" he experienced during the game, comparing it to his days as a catcher in high school and college, where he loved being in control. Broadcasting with baseball encyclopedia Chris Wheeler, McCarthy aimed to call the game "like it was a radio game," making it "pretty descriptive". He emphasized his desire not to "screw it up," wanting it to be a "gift for Roy Halladay, for Carlos Ruiz, and for the Philadelphia Phillies fans".

John Kruk and the St. Louis Arch Bet

For a lighter, humorous anecdote, McCarthy recounted a bet involving his broadcast colleague, John Kruk. John Kruk, who is famously afraid of heights, made a bet that if Kyle Schwarber hit a home run on the "next pitch," Kruk would go up into the St. Louis Arch. When Schwarber indeed hit the home run, Kruk was left with the challenge. McCarthy playfully tries to "play it up" to panic Kruk the next time they are in St. Louis, and people still ask if Kruk has gone up the arch.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Tom McCarthy for a truly engaging and insightful evening. His stories not only offered a fascinating look behind the scenes of professional baseball broadcasting but also underscored the themes of passion, perseverance, and the unexpected paths our lives can take.

We are in recess for the summer, so lodge stated meetings will resume in September. In the meantime, please be on the lookout for emails about our summer social events. Like our upcoming "District B Picnic" and our "Night at the Phillies"!