R.I.P. Harry Kalas: 1936-2009

by **BigEd76** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:38:42

9-zero-2-one-zero

Franzke telling stories about how much he loved the fans, how he'd continue to do requests for fans' answering machine messages even though he didn't have to....

by **dajafi** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:39:14

Highlight of all my Clearwater trips might have been Harry signing my old-school Vet-era Phils hat in '06. He had recently turned, or was about to turn, 70, and there were rumors he might retire. I told him I hoped he'd call Phils games forever.

by **BigEd76** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:39:59

After a couple of Phils fan reactions at Nationals Park, CSN now has Larry Shenk.......who breaks down 15 seconds into it

by 1 » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:40:05

BigEd76 wrote:9-zero-2-one-zero

Franzke telling stories about how much he loved the fans, how he'd continue to do requests for fans' answering machine messages even though he didn't have to....

i've heard a bunch of stories about him recording wedding reception intros, too. always wish i had thought of that.

by **VoxOrion** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:40:32

No matter who the team was on the field, no matter how good or bad they were , no matter what the uniform looked like, no matter the incompetant sharing a microphone with him - he was the constant - Harry Kalas was the Phillies to this fan.

by **TenuredVulture** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:40:50

Gameday audio has top of the ninth, game five.

by **kruker** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:41:19

1 wrote:
BigEd76 wrote:9-zero-2-one-zero

Franzke telling stories about how much he loved the fans, how he'd continue to do requests for fans' answering machine messages even though he didn't have to....

i've heard a bunch of stories about him recording wedding reception intros, too. always wish i had thought of that.

I know of 2 people who Harry did that for. Neither of them knew him personally, they sent him a request and he obliged.

by **kruker** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:41:49

VoxOrion wrote:No matter who the team was on the field, no matter how good or bad they were , no matter what the uniform looked like, no matter the incompetant sharing a microphone with him - he was the constant - Harry Kalas was the Phillies to this fan.

by 1 » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:42:21

TenuredVulture wrote:Gameday audio has top of the ninth, game five.

i just listened to that whole thing by myself over the PA in our auditorium last week. it made me cry all over again. it'll never be the same again.

by **Putt Putt** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:42:46

Trent Steele wrote:
Ace Rothstein wrote:i cant stop crying

It's crazy isn't it - the impact that someone none of us knew can have?

I'm a grown man with children and I'm crying at work over the death of someone I'v never met.

Amazing how important baseball can be.

Exactly right...

by **TheDude24** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:43:31

I agree that Harry was one of the biggest things that made losing seasons fun as a Phillies fan, and he helped make winning seasons mean so much more than winning.

by **BigEd76** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:44:35

Shenk says when the Phils were looking for a new announcer back in the early 70s, Al Michaels was their first choice but he declined...

by **Bob Loblaw** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:44:37

dajafi wrote:Highlight of all my Clearwater trips might have been Harry signing my old-school Vet-era Phils hat in '06. He had recently turned, or was about to turn, 70, and there were rumors he might retire. I told him I hoped he'd call Phils games forever.

I met him in ST as well, and he signed a bat I had -- a few years ago in 05-06, I tried to get a team bat signed - I gave up after a while (although I had most of the big names). I saw Harry and figured I had to get him to sign it - he did, then I asked if he could also inscribe it with "It's Outta Here!" and HOF 02 (or whatever year he made the HOF). He did, no problem. Not growing up in Philly, I didn't have the memories to share with him, and my - at that time 6 - son didn't know who he was. After a few more years of listening to baseball games -- and with MLB Extra Innings FINALLY broadcasting the Phillies home feed last year, we both became very well acquainted with Harry's work, although I knew it from the three years I went to Nova in the mid 90s.

I'm not looking forward to telling my son that Harry KAlas died.

by **CrashburnAlley** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:44:45

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/me ... id=4121449

by **GM-Carson** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:45:16

Harry was the voice of my childhood, and I just always thought he'd be here forever. I love you Harry!

by **Trent Steele** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:45:16

HERE COMES IGOOOCHI!!!

by **meatball** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:45:49

Sunday, 1 PM, sun-splashed field, beer in hand, not working...and Harry's voice. Now what the fuck am I gonna do?

by 1 » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:46:01

i feel like a real scumbag for saving my extra "talking harry" giveaway for ebay until he died. i always assumed it would be years after he retired. that thing is not going anywhere.

by **BigEd76** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:46:31

Jon Slobotkin in studio now

by 1 » Mon Apr 13, 2009 14:48:04

bunky from macungie

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R.I.P. Harry Kalas: 1936-2009

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