March 6: Franzke and ‘Bedlam at the Bank’

The Main Event

Scott Franzke (born 1972) – Longtime Phillies radio broadcaster who joined the organization in 2006. Franzke became the club’s primary play-by-play voice following the death of Harry Kalas in 2009 and has called multiple postseason runs on the Phillies Radio Network.

Scott Franzke built his reputation in baseball broadcasting through a steady climb in the minor leagues before arriving in Philadelphia. A native of Texas, Franzke developed an early interest in sports media and began pursuing broadcasting while attending the University of Texas. Like many future major league broadcasters, he paid his dues calling games for minor league teams across the country, sharpening his play-by-play skills in smaller markets where versatility and preparation were essential.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, Franzke worked for several minor league organizations, including the Springfield Cardinals and the Round Rock Express. These years helped him refine a style that blended clear description with humor and storytelling. He also spent time broadcasting college sports, which broadened his experience behind the microphone. By the early 2000s, he had developed a reputation as a reliable and engaging play-by-play voice, someone who could guide listeners through the rhythms of a baseball game while also making the broadcast feel relaxed and entertaining.

That experience opened the door to a major opportunity in 2006 when the Philadelphia Phillies hired Franzke to join their radio broadcast team. At the time, the booth was anchored by the legendary Harry Kalas, whose voice had been synonymous with Phillies baseball for decades. Franzke initially served as the secondary play-by-play announcer on the Phillies Radio Network, calling middle innings and road games while learning the unique culture and expectations of baseball in Philadelphia.

Becoming the Voice of Phillies Radio

Franzke’s role with the Phillies changed dramatically in 2009 after the sudden death of Harry Kalas early in the season. The loss shook the organization and its fan base, as Kalas had been one of the most beloved voices in baseball. Franzke stepped into the lead play-by-play role under difficult circumstances, tasked with continuing a proud broadcasting tradition while also establishing his own identity on the air.

Over time, he succeeded in doing both. Franzke’s delivery is clear and energetic without feeling forced. He describes the action with precision but also allows the game’s natural pace to guide the broadcast. Phillies fans gradually embraced him as the primary voice of the team, particularly as the club entered a successful era that included postseason appearances and memorable moments.

One of Franzke’s strengths is his ability to make radio listeners feel as if they are sitting in the ballpark. His calls balance excitement with clarity, especially during dramatic moments. Whether describing a late-inning rally or a routine ground ball, he keeps the broadcast easy to follow while maintaining a conversational tone.

Chemistry with Larry Andersen

A major reason for the popularity of Phillies radio broadcasts in recent years has been Franzke’s partnership with color commentator Larry Andersen. Andersen, a former major league pitcher who played for the Phillies during his career, brings humor and insight from the pitcher’s perspective. The contrast between Franzke’s steady play-by-play style and Andersen’s quick wit has created one of the most entertaining booths in baseball.

Their chemistry developed naturally over time. Franzke sets up the action and keeps the game moving, while Andersen often adds observations, jokes, or stories from his playing days. The two frequently tease each other during broadcasts, which gives the program a relaxed feel that resonates with listeners. Fans have come to appreciate the sense that they are hearing two friends enjoying the game together rather than a rigid, scripted broadcast.

This dynamic has produced many memorable moments on Phillies radio. Franzke often delivers the dramatic call when the action demands it, then quickly shifts back into a lighter tone as Andersen reacts with humor or analysis. The balance keeps the broadcast engaging over the long grind of a baseball season.

Franzke’s Signature Call

Scott Franzke’s “Bedlam at the Bank” call came during one of the most dramatic moments in modern Phillies history. In Game 4 of the 2022 National League Championship Series, the Phillies were facing the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park with a chance to take a commanding 3–1 series lead. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with the game tied 3–3 and two runners on base, Bryce Harper stepped to the plate against Padres reliever Robert Suárez.

Harper crushed a go-ahead two-run home run into the left field seats, sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy. As the ball left the bat, Franzke delivered the line that instantly became part of Phillies lore: “Swing and a drive… left field! This one’s got a chance… gone! It is Bedlam at the Bank!”

The phrase captured the chaos and excitement inside Citizens Bank Park as fans erupted, players spilled out of the dugout, and the Phillies took a late lead in a game that would send them to the World Series if they held on. The call quickly spread across social media and highlight packages, becoming one of the most recognizable moments of Franzke’s broadcasting career.

Philadelphia went on to win the game 10–6 and clinch the pennant. Because of that context, Franzke’s call became tied not just to Harper’s home run but to the emotional release of the franchise reaching its first World Series since 2009. Fans still refer to the moment simply as “Bedlam at the Bank,” a shorthand for both the home run and the electric atmosphere that followed.

A Modern Phillies Tradition

After nearly two decades with the organization, Scott Franzke has become one of the defining voices of modern Phillies baseball. He has called playoff games, dramatic wins, and heartbreaking losses, all while maintaining the approachable style that first brought him to Philadelphia. For many fans who follow games on the radio, his voice is now closely tied to the experience of Phillies baseball.

Franzke’s work reflects the enduring importance of radio in the sport. Even in an era dominated by television and digital media, baseball’s slow pace and detailed action make it uniquely suited to radio storytelling. By blending careful description, humor, and genuine enthusiasm for the game, Franzke has carried forward the tradition established by broadcasters before him while also making the role his own.

Philadelphia Baseball Events for March 6

• March 6, 1907 – Philadelphia Phillies owners A. J. Reach and John Rogers were acquitted in a civil lawsuit stemming from the tragic 1903 grandstand collapse at Baker Bowl. The accident killed 12 spectators and injured more than 200, and the decision ended one of the final major legal actions related to the disaster.
• March 6, 1938 – The Phillies sold first baseman Dolph Camilli to the Brooklyn Dodgers for $45,000. Camilli later developed into one of the National League’s most feared sluggers and won the 1941 NL MVP Award with Brooklyn, making the deal a notable example of the financially struggling Phillies selling talent during that era.
• March 6, 1981 – Phillies owner Ruly Carpenter publicly announced that the franchise would be put up for sale. Carpenter cited escalating player salaries and growing financial pressures as reasons for the decision, beginning a process that eventually led to a new ownership group later in the decade.

MLB Events for March 6

• March 6, 1987 – Prized free agent Andre Dawson signs a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth $650,000, well below his market value. A former Montreal Expos star, Dawson had previously offered to sign a “blank check” contract with Chicago, because collusion prevents him from signing a contract at the market rate for his services. He desperately wanted out of Montreal because of the toll the rock-hard artificial turf at Stade Olympique was exerting on his knees.
• March 6, 2005 – Suzyn Waldman becomes the first woman to be a full-time color commentator in major league history, making her debut with John Sterling on WCBS-AM 880, the radio flagship of the New York Yankees. The former radio-talk host on WFAN, the first all-sports radio station in United States, was also the first female to broadcast on a national baseball telecast, as well as the first to provide local TV (Yankees) major league play-by-play.
• March 6, 2006 – Hall of Fame outfielder Kirby Puckett dies in Scottsdale, Arizona, at age 45, a day after suffering a massive stroke. Puckett, who led the Minnesota Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991, hit .318 with 207 home runs and 1,085 RBI over 12 seasons. A ten-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove winner, Puckett ended his career abruptly due to irreversible retina damage in his right eye caused by glaucoma.

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Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for March 6

• Frank Fletcher (born 1891) – An infielder who appeared in just one major league game and it was with the Phillies during the 1914 season. Fletcher played only one major league game but spent several seasons in the minor leagues.
• Terry Adams (born 1973) – A right-handed pitcher who spent part of the 2003 and 2005 seasons with the Phillies after signing as a free agent. Adams worked primarily as a reliever during his career and had previously enjoyed success as both a starter and bullpen arm with several clubs over 15 seasons.
• Edgar Ramos (born 1975) – Venezuelan right-handed pitcher who appeared in four games for the Phillies during the 1997 season. Selected in the Rule 5 Draft, Ramos logged 14 innings for Philadelphia before continuing his professional career in the minor leagues and overseas.
• Edmundo Sosa (born 1996) – Versatile infielder who joined the Phillies in 2022 and has served as an important utility player capable of filling in across the infield. Known for his strong defense and energy, Sosa has contributed key moments during several of the club’s postseason runs. He was acquired in a trade with the Cardinals at the 2022 trade deadline. The Phillies sent pitcher JoJo Romero to St. Louis.
• Brady Day (born 2002) – Infielder in the Phillies minor league system who was selected by Philadelphia in the 10th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Kansas State University. Known for his strong plate discipline and contact ability, Day has played for Clearwater in each of the past two seasons with a slash line of: .244/.329/.313/.642.

MLB Hall of Famers born on March 6

• Lefty Grove (born 1900) – Played 17 seasons — nine with the Philadelphia Athletics, eight with the Boston Red Sox – from 1925-1941. Led the American League in wins four times, ERA four times, strikeouts seven times, and complete games three times. Was a six-time All-Star and the AL MVP in 1931. Final record of 300-141 with a 3.06 ERA in 457 starts and 159 relief appearances.
• Willie Stargell (born 1940) – Played 21 seasons, all of them with Pittsburgh. A seven-time All-Star who led the majors in home runs twice. National League MVP in 1979 and second in the MVP voting in 1973 when he led the majors in doubles (43), home runs (44), RBI (119), slugging percentage (.646), OPS (1.038), OPS+ (186), rOBA (.449), and Rbat+ (186). Part of the “We Are Family” Pirates teams.

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