Phillies Broadcaster Harry Kalas Dies at 73

[Zoneboy]

Link

WASHINGTON - Legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas has died. He was 73.

"We lost our voice today," team president David Montgomery said. "He knows the game and made a tremendous contribution to the sport and to our organization . . .

"Anybody who has played for us, it's an immediate point of connection with the club. He is the Phillies."

The Phillies were told the news at 1:20 p.m.

Montgomery described the team as "stunned."

Kalas collapsed in the press box and was was found at about 12:30 p.m. by Rob Brooks, the Phillies' director of broadcasting. Emergency medical personnel were called and took Kalas to George Washington Medical Center.

"He himself [Brooks], as I understand it, worked with him and immediately got emergency medical there," Montgomery said earlier.

The Phillies have contacted the White House and said they are not going to visit with the president tomorrow.

As of now, today's game will be played as scheduled.

Kalas missed most of spring training after undergoing surgery in early February. The team declined to provide specifics of the surgery at that time, saying only that it was a "minor medical procedure" and that there was no reason for concern. It is unknown if that is related to the current situation.

Kalas had broadcast Phillies games since 1971. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award.

[Wreckless]

WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

[Big C]

Very, very sad.

I can't imagine what fans in Philadelphia are going through upon hearing this.

In retrospect, as it turns out, I'm glad that the Phillies were able to win their title last fall- he at least got to call a championship season before this.

[Wreckless]

No, this isn't happening...this isn't ****ing happening


no

[Big C]

I know what it's like to lose an announcer that you and other fans of your team admire and respect.

I remember what it was like when former Buffalo Sabres TV announcer Ted Darling passed away- that hit me close to the heart, being a Sabres fans who grew up in Buffalo and listening to him in the late 80s and early 90s as I grew into a fan of the team.

My condolences to his family and the Phillies organization.

[Wreckless]

yeah it's so tough.....almost 40 years of broadcasting for us...twice my age

It's a longggggggg drive, deep center, it's got a chance, it's outttttttaaaa hereeeee.....home runn Chase Utley and the phillies take a 5-4 lead

[Zoneboy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8syv6GupEXw

[Wreckless]

I made a group on Facebook in his honor...

he was so much more then a broadcaster for us Phillies fans and delaware county residents etc. he was so cool, so special & nice, and close to the hearts of us fans, & Delaware/Philly & South Jersey residents...

[Big C]

I'm even happier that Philly won the World Series when I think about it- he got to call a championship before ths unfortunate event.

[Zoneboy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlPdAo4jg88

[Zoneboy]

Link

Voices in broadcast booths throughout the country were raised Monday in tribute to the silenced voice of generations, as reverent broadcasters paid homage to the late Harry Kalas.

Kalas collapsed in the Nationals Park broadcast booth prior to the Phillies' game against Washington in the latter's home opener and was rushed to George Washington University Hospital where he was declared dead, at 73.


Bob Costas, now of the MLB Network, called the passing of the Phillies' voice for years a "civic loss."

"The team turned over its personnel through the years, but Harry Kalas was always there calling the game," Costas said. "He was a great announcer. You couldn't convince someone in Philadelphia that there was anyone better to call a game than Harry Kalas.

"He was what baseball sounded like to you in Philadelphia."

Kalas had been the Phillies' voice since 1971, and for six seasons prior to that had broadcast Astros games. In addition, he was a respected broadcaster for the NFL, and the recent voice of NFL Films.

"He died with his boots on, so to speak," said Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell. "I think if you had a choice and God gave you the option, you would take that option.

"He was certainly one of the game's great broadcasters," Harwell added. "I know he was a very popular figure in Philadelphia. He's going to be missed."

"For me, he was the voice that meant the Phillies," said Jim Gardner, news anchor at WPVI-TV. "For me, baseball always brought you back to your youth. He spoke the language of your youth."

The loss was a very personal one for Pat Hughes, the Cubs announcer who has produced a CD series with noted baseball broadcasters, including "Harry Kalas: Voice of the Phillies."

"I just loved the guy," Hughes said Monday. "He was somebody I admired as a young man growing up trying to get into the business. I was struck by his voice and how clear and strong it was. Then I realized beyond that, he was really a great announcer. He knew what he was talking about. He could build the drama in a game.

"I loved hearing him do the voice-overs on NFL Films," added Hughes, alluding to Kalas taking over for the also legendary John Facenda. "It was a voice I never got tired of hearing. Every time I heard it, it sounded fresh and vibrant and good."

Eric Nadel, whose 31-year run in the Rangers' booth is one of the longest in history, said, "Harry was definitely one of the all-time greats in our business and arguably had the very best voice. But he was far more than just a voice. He used a combination of personality, humor and tremendous warmth to entertain the audience and endear himself to them. You can't do that with just a big voice."

"For people in broadcasting he was one of those guys with unmistakable pipes. Unfortunately, he went before his time," said Rockies television play-by-play man Drew Goodman.

"The thing that makes broadcasters unique is the richness of their voice and their passion for the game. Harry had both of those," said Atlanta's Chip Caray, whose late father Harry was inducted into the Ford Frick wing of the Hall of Fame in 1989 -- 13 years before Kalas received the same honor.

"When you think of the greatest ambassadors of the game, Harry was certainly one of those guys," Caray added. "The passion he had while calling games ... was a real inspiration for young broadcasters, like myself.

"He was truly a treasure. He was a mentor and a friend. People will say that the game won't be the same without him and it won't."

"The Phillies have lost one of their icons," said Seattle's Dave Niehaus, another Ford Frick inductee (2008). "I've always been a huge fan of his. It's a great shock. A great loss."

Hughes and Caray were just two younger voices who followed Kalas into the booth and received his help and guidance.

"He was so nice," Hughes said. "He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He was friendly, sincere, still humble, never would brag. He's a Hall of Fame announcer, one of the best ever, and he just acted like a regular guy. He taught me a lot about how to act and treat other people."

Another of those youngsters was the Angels' Terry Smith, who grew up in Philadelphia idolizing his future mentor.

"My uncle was a friend of Harry's and he told Harry of my interest in sportscasting, specifically in baseball," Smith recalled. "I sent him an audition tape. To this day, I still have the letter he sent me ... a very nice letter critiquing my tape.

"One of the things he had in that letter, and it kept me going in my profession, was that there was no doubt in his mind that I would be a Major League announcer if that's what I wanted to do. I've had that letter for over 25 years.

"His influence obviously has rubbed off on me. What I always knew about Harry was how well-prepared and descriptive he was. I'm very sorry he's gone, but he had a great life and influenced a lot of people."

Houston veteran Milo Hamilton, a fellow University of Iowa grad called "his best pal" the man he'd always greet with "Hawkeye, how you doing?" "[Jack] Buck and I were very close, and the same thing with Harry. And now my two best pals in the business are gone," Hamilton said. "He had a distinctive voice and style. He had great ethics, he was a terrific guy. He was very close to the ballclub. He had a lot of friends. What really broke him up was when Richie Ashburn passed away. That was a big loss for him, when Whitey died. And this is a big loss for all of us. He was very popular with the city of Philadelphia."

Dave Van Horn of the Marlins, into his 40th season of broadcasting baseball, called the news of Kalas' death "Tragic, shocking."

"Very sad day," Van Horn said. "I lost a friend, and baseball lost a legendary voice, and the Phillies family, and the Phillies fans, are going to miss him terribly."

Colorado radio voice Jack Kingery saw and exchanged pleasantries with Kalas on Sunday, after the Phillies wrapped up a series in Denver.

"We said we were looking forward to seeing each other again in August when the Rockies got to Philadelphia," Kingery recalled. "You mean all that but certainly when something happens like this it brings it home."

Jon Miller of ESPN and the Giants deviated slightly from others' somber reminisces.

"I'm happy for Harry, because he got to broadcast the Phillies winning the World Series and Opening Night when they had all the ceremonies and raising the World Series flag," said Miller, who covered that April 5 Citizens Bank Park opener and spent quality time with Kalas.

Added Miller, "It's a loss for the game, because Harry was synonymous with the game. His legacy will be felt for a long time to come in Philly. Two or three generations of fans were taught the game by Harry, taught to love the game and taught to love the Phillies."

The rich-baritone Facenda, the man whom Kalas replaced with NFL films, was often referred to as "the voice of God."

Harry can now hear the real thing up close, and share his baseball stories with the highest authority.

[Mr. Television]

That's so sad. May he R.I.P.

[Brad Russ]

I just heard about this a little while ago, and was saddened by the news. R.I.P. Mr. Kalas!!

[TVFactFan]

Yeah my mouth dropped when I turned to the 5pm News today.

[Wreckless]

I'm still shocked.....