As October approaches, the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park was electric Thursday night, thanks to Kyle Schwarber who made baseball history. In a stunning display of power, Schwarber hit his fourth home run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending a massive shot to right field that ignited the crowd into a euphoric frenzy. Although he had the chance for a fifth home run, Schwarber popped out in the eighth inning, marking an unforgettable night for the Philadelphia Phillies' slugger.
With his remarkable feat, Kyle Schwarber became only the 21st player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game. Interestingly, he is the third player to achieve this milestone in the 2023 season, joining Nick Kurtz of the Oakland A’s and Eugenio Suárez of the Arizona Diamondbacks. This rare achievement has fans buzzing and adds to the excitement of the MLB season.
The broadcast team, led by Tom McCarthy, expertly captured the magic of Schwarber's night. One memorable moment included a fan filming Schwarber's at-bat, emphasizing the significance of the event. After Schwarber's fourth home run, McCarthy chose to let the crowd's reaction take center stage, remaining silent for nearly 40 seconds to let the cheers resonate through The Bank. John Kruk's immediate reaction was equally thrilling; as soon as Schwarber made contact with the ball, he exclaimed, “Oh my god,” recognizing that history was in the making.
In a post-game interview, Schwarber expressed his amazement at the night’s events, saying, “It’s crazy. I wish I didn’t ask the question in the cage, ‘How many guys have hit five homers?’” For the record, the answer is zero, making his four-home-run feat even more remarkable. This kind of performance not only elevates individual careers but also enriches the legacy of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The excitement for Schwarber's performance continued on 94.1 WIP, where the radio call by Scott Franzke captured the moment perfectly. In his 20th season as the radio voice of the Phillies, he said, “Everybody looking for history from Kyle Schwarber,” just as the hitter connected with the ball. “Swung on. Hit deep, right field! And there’s history for Schwarber!” However, fans should note that they will miss Kruk and McCarthy on Friday, as the game will be streaming exclusively on Apple TV+. Saturday’s game will return to NBC Sports Philadelphia, while Sunday’s finale will air on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
The last Phillies player to hit four home runs in a single game was Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, who accomplished the feat over 50 years ago against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 7, 1976. Schmidt, who occasionally broadcasts games on NBC Sports Philadelphia, called into Phillies Postgame Live to share his thoughts on Schwarber’s achievement. During the segment, he humorously recounted his own experience, mentioning, “I hit a single, then in my third at bat I hit my first home run,” before letting slip an expletive. His candid remarks had hosts Michael Barkann and Ricky Bottalico in stitches.
Adding to the lighthearted atmosphere, Barkann congratulated Schmidt on becoming a grandfather, only for Schmidt to clarify, “Oh, I’m a grandfather of three girls. There wasn’t another one?” to which Bottalico humorously replied, “Not that I know of.” Schmidt’s wit and charm added an extra layer of joy to the celebration of Schwarber’s historic night.
As the excitement continues to build around the Philadelphia Phillies and their star player, Kyle Schwarber, fans have much to look forward to in the coming games. Whether it's watching from home or at the stadium, the thrill of baseball remains alive and well in Philadelphia.
