Harry Kalas: 1936-2009

This has been a truly crappy couple of weeks for baseball:

Longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas has died at age 73.

Team president David Montgomery announced the death Monday a short time after Kalas passed out in the broadcast booth before a game in Washington against the Nationals.

Montogomery’s voice was cracking as he said that “we have lost our voice.”


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Hizouse
14 years ago

This will probably come out the wrong way, but Phillies fans can probably look forward to some nice tributes in the next few weeks.

I enjoyed all the Skip Caray stories and blog tributes last year.  They provided an opportunity to reflect and remember, something we do not do much of these days.  I can appreciate grinding it out game after game, hopeless season after hopeless season (before the 1990s, anyways), and then looking back and finding meaning in their dedication.  I find it interesting to see what bits people remember, whether it’s yet another promotion for a late-night TBS movie with more sincerity and enthusiasm than the movie deserved, or a particularly sharp disagreement with the official scorer, because it’s important to do things the right way even if no one really cares.

Anyways, my prayers are with the Kalas family.  I don’t know much about Kalas other than the sound of his voice, but I will enjoy learning more in the coming days.

Ryan
14 years ago

The Phillies mashed multiple home runs in their defeat of the Nationals and I spent the day moping on the couch as the announcers paid tribute to the greatest voice in baseball and laid a legend to rest.  Summer will not be the same without the voice of Harry the K, and I’m more than thankful that I got to spend the first thirty years of my life listening to him announce the wins and many, many losses of my favorite sports team.  Rest in peace Harry…it won’t be the same without you.

Richard Dansky
14 years ago

John Kruk was literally shaking when they interviewed him about Harry the K on ESPN. Can’t say as I blame him.

I grew up listening to Harry Kalas on a clock radio tucked under my pillow (so my parents wouldn’t hear I was staying up late to listen). He was, irrevocably and unarguably, the Phillies, both in good times and in bad. And as bad as they got – Ken Howell, anyone – he always made the game worth listening to.

Thanks, Harry, and godspeed.

matt
14 years ago

I am not ashamed to admit that as I type this tears are streaming down my face.  I am 26 years old, and to me, Harry Kalas was the Phillies.  I was at game five of last year’s World Series.  It was the best night of my life.  But just as good was when I got home and was able to hear Harry’s call that, “The Phillies are the 2008 World Champions of Baseball.”  I am so glad that his last season saw the Phillies win the World Series.  Anyone who has grown up in Philadelphia over the last 30 years or so can’t imagine Phillies baseball without Harry.  I cannot imagine being so moved by the death of someone I have never met as I am by Harry’s.  The only thing right now that keeps me smiling is knowing that Harry is on his way to that great broadcast booth in the sky where he will be re-united with Whitey, where they will smile down on Charlie Manuel and 25 other guys who love baseball as much as they and we all did and do.  RIP, Harry.