NBC Sports Philadelphia’s recently unveiled 2026 Phillies television schedule clarified several offseason storylines, yet it also confirmed the end of a familiar on-air chapter, as Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt will not return to the broadcast booth this season after more than a decade of periodic appearances.
Play-by-play voice Tom McCarthy acknowledged the development over the weekend, noting that Schmidt will not be part of the 2026 rotation. A decision that follows a noticeably lighter schedule in recent years and signals the close of a broadcasting run that connected the club’s current era to one of the most decorated careers in franchise history.
Schmidt rejoined Phillies telecasts in 2014, initially working Sunday home games before expanding to Saturday broadcasts from 2015 through 2018, while also drawing on earlier experience from the 1990 season when he first stepped into a media role shortly after concluding his playing career.
Beyond the booth, Schmidt maintained a longstanding presence within the organization after retiring in 1989, returning in 2002 as a special instructor and later serving as a special advisor, roles that reinforced his visibility around the club and positioned him as a conduit between past and present for players and fans alike.
Schmidt appeared in just four games last season, including the regular-season finale against the Minnesota Twins on September 28, and although neither he nor the network outlined specific reasoning, the reduced workload suggested that his television commitments were gradually winding down.
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s press release announcing its 2026 coverage listed McCarthy as the lead play-by-play announcer, with analysts Ruben Amaro Jr., Ben Davis and John Kruk rotating in the booth, while 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels will continue in a part-time analyst capacity after debuting in a similar role last year.
Schmidt’s on-air departure does not diminish the magnitude of his resume, which includes three National League MVP Awards, 12 All-Star selections, 10 Gold Gloves and six Silver Sluggers, along with World Series MVP honors during the Phillies’ 1980 championship run.
During his 18-year career spent entirely in Philadelphia, Schmidt led the National League in home runs eight times, RBI four times and slugging percentage five times, ultimately finishing with 548 career home runs and earning election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995 with 96.5% of the vote on his first ballot.
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Thank God for small favors. Wish Murphy would take over for t.mac.