Ex-Ocean Township High School football standout Keith McPherson (left) enjoys a broadcast on WFAN with Justin Shackil at Yankee Stadium. Photo credit: Keith McPherson
By CHRIS CHRISTOPHER
It was a whirlwind weekend, a weekend to remember for Keith McPherson in May.
The 2006 Ocean Township High School graduate spent a Friday night and a Saturday afternoon calling the New York Yankees’ wins over the Chicago White Sox on WFAN radio at Yankee Stadium. He followed as the emcee at a Meet and Greet with former Yankees great Willie Randolph on a Sunday afternoon at the Baseline Social in Oceanport.
“It was a wild weekend,” said McPherson, who starred at quarterback for the Spartans and is an avid fan of the New Yorkers. “I put in the work. It was a lot to process. I am blessed. I know where I was and I know where I could be. If people said to me that this would happen to me, I would have said they are crazy. I would have said, ‘What is the road map?’ ”
McPherson, 36, replaced veteran broadcaster Suzyn Waldman, who took the weekend off. He sat in her seat in the Providence Bank Broadcast Booth during both games. McPherson made his debut in such a role. His partner was Justin Shackil.
McPherson opened the Friday night broadcast, stating, “It’s such an honor to fill in for Suzyn. “Friday night is my favorite night to fill in. I just want to have fun and enjoy the game and that is exactly what we are gonna do. Friday night is my favorite night to be here. I have sat in those bleachers.”
McPherson introduced the batting orders and defensive alignments for both teams. The Yankees’ starting pitcher was Nestor Cortes Jr.
“It’s Nasty Nestor Night,” McPherson said.
McPherson provided his Keys to the Game, sponsored by a motor vehicle manufacturer.
“It’s a Friday night in the Bronx,” he said. “I’ve been to so many Friday nights here. I’m lockin’ in and being behind Nestor. Give us six or seven innings and we will have a party in the Boogie Down that is the Bronx. Some guys on the White Sox know they are fighting for their major league baseball careers and they will bring it tonight. Gray, overcast night.They’re giving out New York Yankees hockey jerseys. Can’t wait to hear that first-place Yankees (cheer). Nestor toes the slab in the Boogie Down.”
Shackil told McPherson, “It’s awesome to have you here, man.”
“Awesome view,” McPherson said. “Great seats. Different vantage point.”
A Cortes pitch blazed across the plate at 92 miles per hour. McPherson seized the moment, stating as he plugged a commercial promoting safe driving. “Speed is great for pitching. Not for driving.”
McPherson received a roll call from fans early in the game.
“I gotta lock in,” he said. “I was not expecting a roll call. It’s one thing to hear one for John Sterling or Donny Baseball, but I was not expecting that.”
McPherson read a message explaining the copyright rules for the broadcast and read commercials during breaks in the action.
“John Sterling puts in the work,” McPherson said. “It’s obvious. I am no stranger to work. You see the process up close as he is here at 3 p.m. It makes a lot of sense.”
McPherson commented on the colorful gear worn by New York slugger Aaron Judge and led the cheers as the outfielder boomed a home run that touched down in the second deck for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
“All rise,” McPherson said. “Now get out of your seats as that one’s gone. They gave him a pitch to hit. Don’t do it. He’s locked in on everything.”
McPherson promoted an Aaron Judge Home Run Counter and said, “A.J. is dialed in since he got ejected here May 4.”
McPherson interviewed New York slugger Giancarlo Stanton, honored as the Suzyn Waldman Star of the Game, on the field.
McPherson, who slept in a Sterling and Waldman T-shirt prior to the game, took to X after the action, stating, “It was a learning experience. I’ll be better tomorrow. I don’t know how I’m keepin’ it together. Play Frank! Just walked on the field singing New York, New York and interviewed Stanton for Suzyn’s Star of the Game. Waiting on Boone in the press conference room. SAW THE CLUBHOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY WERE ROCKIN’ IN THERE! LET’S GO YANKS!
“This is an out of body experience. This is insane. Representing the CREATURES. Representing the CULTURE. Creatures I love y’all. Ha, ha, ha. I’m laughing through the nerves. Heart beating. Looking out at the stadium. I only get nervous the night before and everybody I’ve ever known wants to text me RIGHT now. Not helping! Universe never connects.My first time calling the Yankees’ game is a Nasty Nestor Night.
“I was pullin’ up to this game regardless, but these seats, WFAN 660 booth seats, are GREAT. I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankees fan. Just had the thought … the Yankee game broadcast is played in the rest rooms where you can’t see the TV or the field. Somebody’s gonna hear my voice and be like … wait a minute??”
McPherson opened Saturday’s broadcast, stating, “Nice day for a baseball game. El Duque throws out the first ball and fans take their seats. We’re due for another good baseball game. I love the day games. I am nervous again. I never felt I would be nervous for a second time. I never imagined doing this. A blast. If I never do this again, it’s forever. Even if I never do this again, this weekend is forever. A shout out to everyone who supported me–even the negative people.”
McPherson said on X, “Wow. This is so cool. So much fun. If I never get to do this again, this is forever! I’m blessed and thankful. I’m having fun calling the game, talking the game and just watching the game from this vantage point. Don’t take me too seriously. Justin Shackil is the professional.”
During the Saturday broadcast, McPherson commented on Juan Soto, the Yankees’ star right fielder, stating, “Home cookin’. Coming back to the Bronx. Yankee fans … all that energy. Yankee fans can will them a victory.”
McPherson’s call of Stanton’s home run was aired on mlb.com. He viewed the batting cages and toured the back corridors of the storied stadium.
“My heart was exploding,” he told The Coaster.
In a private moment, McPherson interviewed El Duque in a video. With Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” blaring over the stadium’s public address system, McPherson interviewed New York catcher Jose Trevino as the Suzyn Walman Star of the Game on Saturday. It was McPherson’s final duty.
Shackil told fans on his show on WFAN on Saturday night, “Awesome opportunity for Keith. It was awesome to have him.”
Shackil said on X, “Great job by Keith McPherson last night and today. He loves his team and it beams through the mic.”
When the Yankees are idle, McPherson’s show airs Monday-Friday (101.9 FM, 660 AM) from 7 p.m.-12 a.m. His show after Yankees’ games airs from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. McPherson and Randolph, who played for and later managed the New York Mets, mingled with fans at the Meet and Greet where a 45-minute question and answer session took place in front of 75 persons. An organizer was Frank Luna of Bradley Beach. Fans wore Yankees and New York Mets gear. Ticket prices ranged from $20-100.
“Baseline Social donated 60 tickets to Little Leagues in Asbury Park, Oceanport and Long Branch,” Luna said.
McPherson, 36, recalled on X how he called games involving the Ocean chapter of the Jersey Shore Pop Warner Football League at the age of 16 when he was Ocean’s varsity quarterback. One game was a Junior Pee Wees game.
“That was my story,” he said. “I was probably just as nervous then as I was 20 years later, getting to call two baseball games for my favorite (team). It had been 20 years since I last called a game. Anything is possible. Shout out to whoever’s dad came up to the booth and told me I should major in communications (McPherson and his wife, Nicole, are Monmouth University graduates). I was paid 20 bucks. I had no idea what that meant, but I listened. God’s plan.”
McPherson, a commentator on his show, KM to AM, on Monday through Friday nights, said his Yankees’ broadcasts were popular.
“I’m buried in messages, direct message type,” he said at the Meet and Greet. “It’s incredible how something like that attracts people from every corner of your life to you, including my high school coaches, Sal Spampanato and Donny Klein.”
McPherson said he received advice from Shackil and veteran television and radio broadcaster Michael Kay prior to the broadcasts.
“They said, ‘Just don’t talk over the pitch,’ ” McPherson said. “There were so many ad reads. They (the production staff) kept feeding me flash cards–information overload on top of emotional overload. Plus, I had to know all of those White Sox players. I was given large packets of information about the teams prior to each game.”
McPherson said he learned of the assignment shortly before he went on the air.
“About a week before this, I still had to deal with my regular night shows and my (young) son,” he said. “Mental and emotional overload. Everyone said, ‘We need K.M.’ ”
McPherson said he is hopeful of landing more broadcasts.
