Phillies Broadcaster Chris Wheeler Speaks at Congregation Beth Or

With sports memorabilia ranging from an autographed Jimmy Rollins ball to a signed Pete Rose bat, the silent auction tables were bustling as excited fans repeatedly checked the status of their bids.

In the next room, the crowd devoured hearty sandwiches, stacked high with slices of hot turkey, pastrami, corned beef and brisket from Hershel’s East Side Deli at Reading Terminal Market. But the main draw for the almost 200 men gathered at the Brotherhood Annual Dinner on December 6th was the featured speaker:  longtime Phillies broadcaster Chris Wheeler.

After warming up the crowd with a few sports jokes, KYW’s Jeff Asch introduced Wheeler as “truly one of the icons when it comes to Philly sports.”

“The thing I love most about Chris, is that I learn something new every time I listen – and that’s what you want from a color analyst,” said Asch.

That’s also what the Beth Or crowd wanted from its guest speaker – and Wheeler delivered.  With humor and charm, he shared his knowledge and experience, garnered from his 41 years with the Phillies organization. Joking that he had ample time because he had nothing to do until February, Wheeler talked about the players, the fans, the upcoming season and the Phillies of old. Wheeler also spoke about the increasing competitiveness of the teams in the National League East, except for the Mets – an exception that received a rousing applause from the Philly crowd.

When asked about the most memorable moment of his career, Wheeler responded without hesitation.

“1980 will always be most special to me because those guys were my buddies, and they went through a lot to win the World Series,” said Wheeler. “That team took me under their wing; they are the guys I learned the game from.”

However, he referred to the current era as “a golden age” in Phillies baseball and described how exhilarating it is to be a part of it. 

“There’s nothing like playing in this town when you’re winning,” he said.  “It’s just different here.  It means something here – we take it personally.” 

While baseball was on the minds of most men at the Brotherhood dinner, the organizers of the event were also focusing on their fundraising goal. 

“What we’re trying to do,” explains Brotherhood president Jay Runkel, “is to raise money to do greater good at Beth Or and in the community at large.” 

With 80 to 90% of its funding coming from the annual dinner, the Brotherhood is able to sponsor family events at the synagogue, support youth group programs, and fund scholarships so that students can further their Jewish learning. The money raised from the dinner has also helped fund charitable causes supported by Beth Or within the community, such as a Habitat for Humanity house and families in transition at Hope Gardens.  Thanks to funds raised at prior annual dinners, the Beth Or Brotherhood has even been able to reach out to victims of last year’s tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri and forest fires in Israel.

It is hard to imagine that hanging with the guys and talking baseball can have such far-reaching effects.  For some of the younger people in the audience, the inspirational impact of the evening was even more personal.  When a couple of aspiring young broadcasters approached Wheeler, he encouraged them and reminded them of just how broad the field is.

“Everyone wants to be the guy sitting in front of the camera,” he said, “but there are lots of other possibilities,” Wheeler said.

For now, the one possibility on everyone’s mind is a Phillies World Series victory next year.