Franzke's career began as a studio host for the now-defunct Prime Sports Radio Network (now Fox Sports Radio) in 1994 which led him three years later to be the host of the Texas Rangers radio pre- and post-game shows 1997–98. He honed his play-by-play skills as the voice of the Kane County Cougars from 1999 to 2001, and covered the 2000 Summer Olympics for Sporting News Radio. He returned to the Rangers to reassume the pre and post game broadcasting duties and also filled in on play-by-play from 2002 to 2005.[2]
In 2006, he was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies to take over those same duties when Tom McCarthy was hired away from the Phillies by the New York Mets, their National League Eastern Division rivals. McCarthy returned to the Phillies broadcasting team in 2008.[2] Franzke worked the fifth and sixth innings in 2006 with Larry Andersen.[1]
In 2007, Franzke assumed more play-by-play duties, replacing Scott Graham in the broadcast booth, turning over pre- and post-game duties to Jim Jackson.[3]
In 2008 and the first month of the 2009 season, Franzke called play-by-play in innings 1-3 and 5-9 with Andersen, while Harry Kalas joined Andersen for play-by-play in the fourth. After the death of Kalas, Franzke assumed play-by-play duties for all nine innings for the remainder of the 2009 season. Until 2020, Franzke called innings 1-3 and 6-9 during home games (with Jackson taking over for innings 4-5) while continuing to call all nine during away games and home games when Jackson was unavailable due to his work as the television play-by-play voice of the Philadelphia Flyers. Beginning in 2021, Franzke once again called all nine innings for every game.
On February 13, 2023, the Phillies announced they reached a long-term deal with Franzke after the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2022 season.[4]
Memorable Philadelphia Phillies calls
2008:
And the 3-1 pitch, swing and a high fly ball, deep right field! Ethier turns and he watches this one sail deep into the pavilion seats in right! Phillies lead in the 8th on a pinch-hit, two-run home run from Matt Stairs!
Runners go, the pitch, swung on, lined to second, Bruntlett's got it, steps on second, tags the runner! It's a triple play! And that will end the ball game! Are you kidding me!?
Street, a high set. Two balls and a strike, here's the pitch. Howard swings and drives one! Deep right field. On the run, Gonzalez, towards the track, its over his head. One hops the wall. Victorino coming around third, he's going to score! Utley's right on his heels, and he is safe! A double by Howard has tied the game here in the top of the ninth with two outs! 4–4 in the ninth! Ryan Howard has come through and stunned this crowd in Colorado!
The right-hander (Jonathan Broxton) checks the runner. Here's the pitch. Swing and a drive, right center field. This one is falling! It's a base hit! It'll go up the alley! Bruntlett will score! Ruiz around third, he is being waved home—the Phillies have won the ballgame! Ruiz slides! Rollins has won it! They stream out of the dugout, Rollins mobbed near third! This game is over, as the Phillies strike again with two outs in the ninth inning, and they have a three games to one lead! The Phillies have beaten the Dodgers with two outs in the ninth, and they have done it to Broxton again in Game 4! Wow, what a finish! Jimmy Rollins has made his mark in this series!
Halladay takes the baseball back. Steps back up onto the mound, tucks the baseball in his right hand, now into the glove, holds it in front of the letters, nods yes, the wind... the 1-2 pitch, swing and a ground ball left side, Castro's got it, spins, throws, he got him! A perfect game for Roy Halladay! Twenty-seven up and twenty-seven down! Halladay is mobbed at the mound as the Phillies celebrate perfection tonight in Miami!
Just about a quarter to eight, October the sixth, 2010. The first postseason game for Roy Halladay. He winds, the 0-2, swing and a dribbler, out in front of the plate, Ruiz out to get it, the throw from his knees — It's in time! And it's a no-hitter! Unbelievable! Ruiz and Halladay embrace and the Phillies again celebrate around Roy Halladay! Four nothing, it's the second no-hitter in major league postseason history, here tonight at Citizens Bank Park!
Here's the 3-2, Swung on! Crushed! He's done it! How about that for heroics into the second deck as Bryce Harper has tied this game! On a 3-2 pitch in the bottom of the 8th inning, it's 6 to 6 on Harper's sixth career grand slam!
Two on one out, and the pitch. Swung on! Crushed, and the Phillies are gonna lead it! Four to nothing! A three-run home run for Rhys Hoskins! His first postseason home run, and he's sprinting around third-base! What a moment here at Citizens Bank Park!
Two balls, two strikes to Bryce Harper. Suárez delivers. Swing and a drive; left field. It's deep! It's going! And it is gone! It is bedlam at the Bank as Bryce Harper has put the Phillies on top! . . . . His tenth career home run in the postseason and he may never hit a bigger one!
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