Howard Eskin, a fixture of Philadelphia sports talk radio for nearly 40 years, announced his sudden departure from 94.1 WIP on social media Friday.
Eskin said he was “moving on” after 38 years with the station, but didn’t give a reason for the abrupt exit after such a long career.
“I leave the station with great affection for the listeners who have made the work I do so fulfilling during my time there,” Eskin wrote on social media Friday afternoon. “I’m looking forward to what comes next career-wise. I promise you’ll be the first to know.”
A spokesperson for Audacy, the parent company of WIP, said in a statement, “WIP and Howard Eskin have parted ways. We thank Howard for his years of contributions to WIP.”
Neither Eskin nor station manager Rod Lakin could be immediately reached for comment
Eskin also serves as the sideline reporter during WIP’s broadcasts of Eagles games. It’s unclear who will be replacing him Sunday. Eskin’s son, Spike, hosts WIP’s afternoon show alongside Ike Reese and Jack Fritz.
Howard Eskin had been banned from covering the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park by the team after The Inquirer reported he made an unwanted advance toward a female Aramark employee at the ballpark in May. He apologized on air in July, telling listeners, “I’m truly sorry that this did occur.”
Eskin, a graduate of Northeast High School, hosted WIP’s first sports talk show in 1986, and has been an outsized presence at the station ever since. He took a reduced role in 2011, but still appeared regularly on the station and hosted a Saturday morning show, often from the Borgata in Atlantic City.
Over the years, the city’s fans, reporters, and sports media personalities have had a love-hate relationship with the bearded host, often referred to as “The King.” That includes those who worked beside him. Mike Missanelli, a 97.5 The Fanatic host, said he “wanted to kill” Eskin every day during their three years cohosting a show on WIP, and retired morning show host Angelo Cataldi has spoken about his issues with his former colleague.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
