This morning on the WIP Morning Show with Angelo Cataldi, Rhea Hughes and Al Morganti, some shocking, disappointing news was broke. While the Phillies have added many new faces to their broadcasting team this offseason: Jamie Moyer, Matt Stairs and Mike Schmidt, an additional subtraction along-side Chris Wheeler and Gary Matthews Sr. was revealed today.
Long-time member of the Phillies' Spanish radio broadcast crew and Newark-native, Rickie Ricardo, is leaving the team to work for his favorite team growing up, the New York Yankees.
Ricardo has been a broadcaster for 33 years, working in cities throughout the East coast such as Miami, Washington D.C., and once before in New York, prior to landing his latest position here in Philadelphia, calling Spanish radio play-by-play for the Phillies.
Ricardo gained early prominence not for calling sports games, but as a radio-DJ. Just recently in 2007 did he transition over to the baseball-realm of radio broadcasting. He is a member of the New York City Radio Hall of Fame.
Ricardo hosted the “Acceso Total” pregame show for the Phillies Spanish radio network, in addition to announcing play-by-play. He also completed engineering and technology duties for SBN Philadelphia.
He will be remembered as a Phillies broadcaster for his iconic calls of plays such as in the following video. Even though we have no clue what he's saying, the excitement in his voice tells you the true passion he has for the game of baseball.
Ricardo is expected to remain at WIP-FM, where he has hosted occasional shows, but it is unclear whether or not he will remain as the Philadelphia Eagles' Spanish radio play-by-play announcer.
You can send Rickie your well-wishes to him personally on Twitter @Darickman.
Hasta pronto, Rickie.
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Matt Rappa is a contributor to Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @mattrappa
