The All-Time Greatest Mike Francesa Prank Calls

When Mike Francesa retires from WFAN after contract expiration, an era of stellar sports talk and hilarious miscues will come to an end.

There is reason as to why WFAN sports talk radio legend Mike Francesa has remained atop the ratings for over 20 years.

He does not simply run down the New York sports landscape. Instead, he takes controversial angles on certain hot topics, resulting in disbelief, anger, and refutation from listeners.

At times, that “hatred” of Francesa turns into pure foolishness. Fans, who do not necessarily like him, listen to hear his next “outrageous” claim — hence why he is “numbah one!”

Those fans find joy in doing anything and everything to mess up his rhythm, or gaining a short stint of popularity on the air.

From outlandish claims to merely foolish remarks, which belong nowhere but a sports bar, Francesa has heard and dealt with it all. Whether he reminds the callers that he is rich or simply deals with it in a sarcastic and witty way, he always has an answer.

So, with that said, let’s run it down. Which call-ins made the cut?

Without further adieu, here is Elite Sports NY’s list of the greatest Mike Francesa prank calls.

10. Nine-Game World Series?

This call was the definition of random, and you would have to think that this old man came up short on the seriousness front.

On an early March day in 2015, Francesa fielded a caller who initially asked his opinion of the new — at the time — baseball commissioner, Rob Manfred. Being that he was considering unique change within the sport, the man on the line suggested that a nine-game World Series could be feasible.

When Mike put him on the spot, he provided no substantiation as to why reverting back to a best-of-nine would be sufficient. It was a classic “get lawst” scenario.

9. MLB Perfection?

Want another preposterous question? How about a caller asking Mike whether a baseball team can potentially have a perfect season — 162-0. Clearly, unless the caller had no basis of reality, this was meant as a short spectacle.

After playing the baseball trivia game with regards to the “most dominant” team in baseball history, the 1927 Yankees, Francesa began to play along with it. Testing the caller’s knowledge, he claimed that a basketball team had gone 82-0 — which, for the record, has never happened in NBA.

He proceeded to let him go, putting an end to some comical radio dialogue.

8. Team Picnic

If you thought number 10 was random, think again.

Here is the general idea of this one: When the San Francisco Giants are in town, do the New York Football Giants call them up to have dinner?

A baffled Mike Francesa eventually took the sarcasm angle on this one, joking that the Texas Rangers and New York Rangers get together annually.

This one was a foolish call for the ages; one of the weirdest Mike has heard in a “long time.”

7. What do you do with Mark Teixeira?

Albert Pujols to the Yankees?

When this caller was put on the air, he could not control himself to begin with. After rambling for about 15 seconds, Mike restored order.

Following a claim that Pujols should sport pinstripes, the sports radio king asked what New York would do with Mark Teixeira.

The caller proceeded to swiftly move into a John Sterling home run call, certainly drawing a few laughs given that his thought process made no sense whatsoever.

6. Jason Giambi to the Jets

A plausible solution to the 2013 New York Jets quarterback issues? Former A’s and Yankees slugger, Jason Giambi.

This was only one of numerous outlandish Giambi calls that the infamous “Mongo Nation” orchestrated. However, this one had to top them all, especially when you take Francesa’s reaction into account.

“Jason Giambi?!”

Priceless.

5. Vince Lombardi to the Knicks?

This one was odd, and a little messed up. The kind of messed up that makes you laugh in a guilty fashion.

A caller suggested that a former, and now deceased, legendary NFL coach, Vince Lombardi, should coach the New York Knicks.

Rather than hanging up immediately, Mike took the personal route. Trying to understand the caller’s thought process, it was exposed that the fan was an unemployed volunteer fireman, who was not serving that day.

At the tail-end of the call, the individual claimed that he was on unemployment.

Francesa’s response? “I’m not surprised.”

4. Joba = Elite?

You have to be shocked that Francesa did not go into cardiac arrest in the midst of this one.

“Andy Pettitte is a stahting pitchah!!”

A caller tried to claim that Joba Chamberlain — in 2009 — had one of the best ERAs in the league when inserted into the starting rotation, and Mike was not about to have it.

When he compared his performance to that of potential Hall-of-Famer Andy Pettitte, he lost it.

Evidently, this was a get-under-your-skin motive for the caller. He succeeded greatly.

3. Rick Nash needs Diet Coke

How will Rick Nash step up his game? How will he resurrect a postseason-long slump?

How about drinking some of Mike’s Diet Coke, a beverage which he brings to the studio on a daily basis.

Being that the caller was a bit over-enthusiastic, Francesa immediately questioned his vocal volume as he disconnected the line. Then, he, in his classic “what are you doing” mindset, spoke his mind, wondering why nothing meaningful was contributed.

Diet Coke will forever be a comical talking point of the historically great afternoon drive show.

2. Sweeny Murti Backlash

When conducting an interview with Yankees WFAN beat reporter Sweeney Murti, Francesa clearly fell asleep on the air. When he woke up, he obviously displayed a look of shock while trying to get the show back on track.

The days that followed featured a slew of sleepy jokes. Mike would not be able to hear the end of it.

These two, in particular, got the best of him. Clearly in no mood to talk about what was an instant classic WFAN/YES Network moment, he jabbed at one one of the callers, calling him a “jerk.”

1. Atmospheric Equations

Perhaps the most defensive angle Francesa has ever taken involved the hot-button deflategate  issue. Attacking Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, Mike let out his inner rage on a bunch of Brady defenders.

The latter caller, whose name was supposedly Steve, was the opposite of serious. He claimed that atmospheric pressure caused the football deflation, and Francesa was not about to give him the light of day.

Firing a series of consecutive questions, Francesa owned Steve on this one, eventually calling him a foolish math teacher.

The FS1 simulcast still existed at this point, making this must-watch television. Arguably the most animated he has ever become, Mike did not come up short in attacking his top prank caller.

Emmanuel Berbari covers the New York Yankees & Major League Baseball for ESNY. Interact with him and view his daily work by “liking” his facebook page. He invites you to email any questions, comments, or concerns as well.