In heartbreaking news for Phillies fans, Gregg Murphy will not return to the television broadcast team in 2021
While Philadelphia Phillies fans may be allowed to return to Citizens Bank Park in the 2021 season, longtime NBC Sports Philadelphia field reporter Gregg Murphy will not be at the venue in his broadcast role.
On Wednesday, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Murphy is part of the NBC Sports’ recent slew of layoffs and that he will be let go following the Phillies’ coronavirus-shortened 2020 season.
Joining the broadcast team in 2012, Murphy was quick to establish a fanbase. Known for his friendly interactions with fans at the ballpark, great reporting, and just overall being a nice guy, he’s become a Phillies staple.
Affectionately simply known as “Murph,” he’s formed good relationships with not only the Phillies players and staff, but with the fans. Often sitting in the Phillies dugout hole on the first baseline for his on-air reports, he interacted with fans by just talking baseball and personal life. You’d only have to meet him once to know that he is a nice and fun guy to be around — and that is what he is.
Murphy, who has been off the air for a few games after self-reporting symptoms, said in a statement, “I am unbelievably grateful for the time I’ve had at NBC over the last 20 years — nine and a half with the Phillies broadcast team. I very much look forward to coming back and finishing the season as soon as I’m cleared to get back to the ballpark,” Murphy tells the Inquirer.
Following the news, Phillies fans were quick to share their thoughts on Murphy’s departure:
You suck, @NBCSPhilly. And you know who wouldn't even say that now, because he's got class? Gregg Murphy.
It’s safe to say that everyone loved Murphy, and his departure is saddening for Phillies fans. Here are three things we loved and will miss the most about him.
Gregg Murphy interviews Roman Quinn #24 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
Everyone will miss Gregg Murphy’s reports on Phillies television broadcasts.
Something that made Gregg Murphy liked not only in Philadelphia, but in the sports broadcast world, was the way he conducted his interviews and reports on the broadcast. Often doing the MLB Notebook segment in the seventh inning, Murphy goes over what is happening around the league on that current day; it was always incredible to watch and listen to what he had to say.
Murphy’s attitude and love for the game was radiated through the screen and into the homes of Phillies fans, who watched when he was on-air doing a segment. Postgame interviews with players are no exception.
You could feel Murphy’s charismatic energy and love for the game through the screen while watching his post-game player interview. Following every game, Murphy would go down to the field and interview a player.
Any Phillies player who was subject to an interview with Murph would agree he is a true professional broadcaster.
Having Murphy no longer on the Phillies broadcast team is a huge blow to not only the network, with some fans say they will no longer be watching the network, but to fans watching on TV looking forward to his reports. Also, on occasion, Murphy has filled in inside the broadcast booth for play-by-play duties, as needed.
Aside from his postgame interviews, Murphy also conducted interviews with fans he’d meet at Citizens Bank Park for an on-air segment. Any fan who got the chance and experience to be interviewed by Murphy for a segment on a Phillies game broadcast, you could just tell while watching on TV that the fan was enjoying themself.
Meeting Gregg Murphy at the ballpark
Meeting Gregg Murphy at the ballpark is something that the few fans who had the opportunity to do so will miss. Anyone who had the chance to come across him at Citizens Bank Park would say that he is one of the nicest people they have met — even if it was just one time or twice.
Murph, running across the stadium to do his next on-air hit, would stop for a chat and a photo opportunity with any fan that came in his path if you just shouted “Murph!” Countless fans took to Twitter after the news of the network let go Gregg Murphy after the season to share moments where they were able to meet him and take a photo with him.
Often interviewing fans sitting in the Diamond Club or just in a random section at Citizens Bank Park, interacting with them and talking Phillies baseball, Murphy will sure be missed both on the field and off the field.
So many fans throughout the season would take to social media and interact with Murphy there as well. The field reporter loved the Philly fans and it’s quite obvious he did. It’s also obvious that he loved his job here, and for his position to be taken away from him and not only Phillies fans but baseball fans around the world is disappointing, to say the least.
Murph was well-liked around the organization, NBC Sports Philadelphia, and among the fans. Him interacting with the fans and caring about the fans was the “cherry on top.”
Gregg Murphy’s charity work
Off the field, Gregg Murphy was doing work for charity; and while he will still continue to do it even after being let go, it is something that we all loved him for.
Every year, Murphy holds a charity event, one of the many he hosts named The Ben to The Shore Bike Tour. This charity event includes a bike ride throughout the Jersey Shore in an effort to raise money for fallen first responders. It was announced earlier this month that due to the coronavirus pandemic, the charity event would be going virtual for the first time ever.
This proves that Murphy is committed to continuing to raise money for charity and he actually cares. This is a big reason why Phillies fans and sports fans around the world love him.
Aside from the bike charity event, Murphy holds an annual charity event down in Clearwater, Florida, while the Phillies participate in spring training. This event raises money for his team, “Team Murphy,” in the bike race.
Neither events were able to be held in-person this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are just two of the charity events that Murphy does whilst he participates in countless others all in the name to raise money for numerous charities across the Philadelphia region and the world.
While he will still continue to do this, it’s one of the countless reasons Phillies fans loved him. It proves that he is one hell of a good person, not just seen as a good broadcaster and reporter.
An Open Letter to Gregg Murphy
Thank you, Gregg Murphy, for your contributions that have not gone unnoticed to Phillies fans across the world who have watched your work on numerous Phillies gameday broadcasts for years.
Seeing you get let go by the network you have called home for years is not only unfair for you, but for Phillies fans who would tune in to watch you on broadcasts, want to meet you at games at Citizens Bank Park, and even on road games.
We thank you for your years of hard work, segments you’ve done during broadcasts, interacting with fans both in-person and on social media, and the many other countless works you have done for not only Phillies broadcasts, but for the area community as a whole.
There’s no doubt that you’ll find somewhere else soon, but one thing is for certain — it won’t be the same as Philadelphia, and it will be quite saddening at first to see your work for another network and another organization, wherever that might be. There is nobody that deserves more than a better network to have than you. NBC Sports Philadelphia letting you go was a big mistake, and they’ll realize that once you find somewhere else.
Whether that be somewhere in Philadelphia or another region, we wish you the best of luck and thank you for the countless things you’ve done during your tenure covering the Philadelphia Phillies.
Phillies broadcasts will not be the same without you in 2021 and beyond.
