Former Philadelphia Phillies player and manager Larry Bowa and play-by-play broadcaster Scott Franzke joined Jon Johnson in the 94 WIP studio on Wednesday morning, and the segment took a fun turn when longtime Phillies radio voice Larry Andersen called in.
Bowa and Franzke had been having fun talking baseball as they filled in for Angelo Cataldi. Andersen, who cut his 2022 broadcast schedule down to 40 games as he nears retirement, called in while driving back to Philly from spring training when he kicked off a series of ribs the three had for each other.
“I can’t talk to my partner too long because I’m driving. I don’t want to fall asleep behind the wheel,” Andersen said.
“Are you gonna retire yet?” Franzke quipped back. “Will you please just go?”
The back and forth continued for a little longer before Andersen reflected on his journey in Phillies broadcasting and working with Franzke.
“Working with him is a treat. Talk about being blessed,” Andersen said. “To start working on TV with Harry (Kalas), get what I thought at the time was demoted to work with Scott, and find out that it was the greatest thing to happen to me was to go to radio and work with Scott.”
Andersen shared a couple of good stories about both Bowa and Franzke before he was asked if he was calling this weekend’s season-opening series against Oakland. Bowa jumped in with some advice.
“You better do your homework, L.A., cause I don’t think you know anybody on that Oakland A’s team,” he said. “I don’t know anybody on it.”
“I think the few guys I did know got traded just recently, so I’m in trouble,” Andersen replied. “That’s why I lean on my partner.”