PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — How much does Kristi Lynn Kuhn adore the Phillies?
Well, let’s go back to October 27 and 29, 2008: the clinching Game 5 of the ‘08 World Series. Both nights – the first one in aggravating rain – Kuhn and her friends were watching the game from outside Citizens Bank Park. Remember, this was before the days of Xfinity Live!, which has a huge outdoor TV screen. Instead, they’re peeking into the then-restaurant McFadden’s, which is now Pass and Stow, hugging trees and watching the game on a small television.
On the second night, rain long gone, Kuhn and her friends followed the iconic championship win by walking all the way to City Hall to celebrate, and then all the way back to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex because the subways weren’t operating.
That’s dedication.
That’s how much Kuhn loves the Phils.
She’s not just a fan. She’s a “Phan,” as Kuhn often substitutes ‘f’s’ in words with ‘ph’s.’
“It’s my way of life,” the 41-year-old retail supervisor from Runnemede said.
That way of life has led to many connections at the beloved ballpark, including one with popular Phillies broadcaster Gregg Murphy.
Kuhn is such a big fan of Murphy’s that she made a fan club for him, “Murph’s Fan Club”, as highlighted through a Twitter account she runs.
But that’s not the superfan’s only way of supporting Murphy.
She and Murphy, along with many others, are on a mission to strike out cancer.
A euphoric, warm, fuzzy feeling
The Phillies hold a special place in Kuhn’s heart. She’s been a fan since she was two years old.
“I guess I was born into it, and then I just blossomed more as the years went on.”
It’s a bond her and her mother, a game day employee at Citizens Bank Park, share.
“We’re definitely a big Phillies phamily … with that ‘Ph’ in front.”
Like many fans, the 1993 National League Championship Phils are her guys. She has countless items of memorabilia, attire, autographs, photos, framed puzzles and pins that exemplify her fanaticism for this team. She estimates having tens of thousands of Phillies items.
“Every single day there’s something Phillies, whether it’s during the baseball season, or the clothing that I wear on the off-season, or my lunch bag that I take to work, or the pajamas that I wear to go to bed, there isn’t a day that goes by that my love is there and it shows.”
Kuhn has a Sunday plan, and one that she dedicates basically an entire day to at the ballpark.
Sometimes she’ll arrive four to five hours before a game – even if it’s just to get her steps in walking around the ballpark. At the game she’ll make her rounds, saying hello to people she has become friendly with over the years at Citizens Bank Park. After the game, she’s in no rush – sometimes she’ll try to grab an autograph. In the end, she estimates spending 12 hours in South Philadelphia before heading home.
“There are very few things that are euphoric for people, and the Phillies are up there for me,” Kuhn said. “It just brings me so much joy and happiness and that warm, fuzzy feeling.”
One of the friendships she made at the ballpark was Murphy, a long-time field reporter on the Phillies NBC Sports Philadelphia telecasts and current pregame and postgame host on the Phillies Radio Network.
“She is so passionate about this team, about this organization, about these players,” said Murphy. “She really is so knowledgeable about baseball, and she just loves it. And when you meet fans like that who are so involved with this squad, and put so much emotion behind it, it’s just fun to watch. I'm a huge sports fan and always have been a big fan, but some of these fans take it to the next level, and Kristi Lynn’s one of them.”
Coming to bat for Murph in more ways than one
During the first year of the pandemic, Murphy was part of a round of layoffs at NBC Sports Philadelphia and was let go after the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Kuhn and “Murph’s Fan Club” started a petition for Murphy to stay. Kuhn doesn’t know for certain, but she likes to say that had a part in the Phillies hiring Murphy to host weekend pregame and postgame shows in 2021, then every pre and post-program starting in 2022. Murphy was humbled.
“In so many ways, there were so many people that came out and signed that petition and joined the fan club that I think the Phillies saw that I did have a connection with our fans and I think that was a big part of the reason why I am back with the Phillies organization,” he said. “So, I’m so thankful for Kristi Lynn and the others that showed that they wanted me around and that I was also a big part of the organization.”
While returning to the Phillies was a happy moment for Murphy and his fans in 2021, the hometown broadcaster also received scary news that same year.
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Murphy was diagnosed with a treatable, but non-curable blood cancer called Hairy Cell Leukemia. He says after 13 weeks of treatment he went into remission but still experiences the effects of those treatments. So, Murphy is using his platform to raise money for cancer research and strike out this awful disease.
Murphy was recently nominated for Visionary of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Greater Philadelphia by longtime 94WIP Marketing Director Cindy Webster, whose father passed away from Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma in May 2021. Murphy asked Kuhn to be a member of his fundraising team this year because she had always been eager to help him with some of his charity work.
“[Kristi Lynn] immediately accepted and jumped in with two feet to really help us do what we’re doing right now,” said Murphy. “It means a lot to me.”
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And that’s when Murphy found out that Kuhn’s father also passed away from cancer in the summer of 2012 from Multiple Myeloma.
“But it makes it that much more meaningful, I think, for both of us that she’s a part of what we’re trying to do,” said Murphy.
Since Murphy announced the campaign, many on social media have expressed their support. He says the reaction has been overwhelming.
“This city – this fanbase – has been so good to me for years and years and you just can't put into words what it means when a group of people who you have an acquaintance with, but you don't really know, come forward and show their emotions and offer you support,” said Murphy.
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“Anyone battling cancer needs those people around them and I'm so lucky that I feel like I have an entire city kind of rooting for me to get through this and it's amazing and I hope they know that I see it all and I appreciate it and I love it.”
On May 4, Murphy and Merryman’s Pub in Pitman, New Jersey, are hosting a fundraising event to benefit this cause.
Kuhn sounds confident Murphy will win this award, which she thinks will be huge because of the awareness being brought to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
“Murph is more than deserving for this [Visionary of the Year] title,” says Kuhn. “And his ability to get that word out [for LLS] just like Cindy did is phenomenal … with a ‘Ph’ by the way.”