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

Website · by **Wolfgang622** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 21:24:44

It's interesting, looking at this Mike Schmidt 500th Home Run tape again, to see that even for this tape, made after the 1987 season, they had Harry Kalas do some recreated PBP calls, including Schmidt's 497th HR (clearly not recorded live, but done after the fact). This seems to me to give the lie to the oft-made claim by the Phillies that Harry Kalas called every one of Schmidt's HRs. Harry didn't do the PRISM telecasts, so any game in the 1980s and 1990s broadcast on that network would not have included him. Since they would still rotate on the radio during those games broadcast by PRISM, there must have been Schmidt HRs Harry didn't call. This tape would seem to tacitly verify this (if they had Kalas' live call of Schmidt's 497th, why not use it? - and it's impossible to believe they wouldn't have kept it if they had it, since they were clearly planning the tribute video as Schmidt was approaching his 500th HR).

Along the same lines, the 498th HR is shown without a call at the Vet in this video.

by **td11** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 21:33:01

awful, awful, week. i'm glad for BSG on days like this.

thank you, harry, for being the voice of my phillies memories. they're going to last me a lifetime.

RIP.

by **BigEd76** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 21:38:38

Kruk choking up on the ESPNEWS updates

by **ReadingPhilly** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 21:48:07

"He was not only a multitalented fellow with a wonderful voice. He was a lovely guy. I mean, everybody liked Harry. The city of Philadelphia will just be in mourning because they loved him so much," Scully said. "I'm happy for him that his team was world champions last year, so he had the thrill of that."

a nice little video from stark up at espn as well

by **Drugs Delaney** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 21:48:51

I just posted this on my blog:

Legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas died early this afternoon and I know my life will never be the same in the aftermath of this event. I'm never one to say much about the passing of a public figure because I never knew them and their impact on my life is usually minimal at best. This is not the case with Harry Kalas. You see, I'm a lifelong loyal, die-hard Philadelphia Phillies fan and I've been listening to Harry call games since I was a little, little kid.

I adore the game of baseball in general, and the Phillies in particular, and Harry Kalas has as much to do with that adoration as anyone else, probably more. It was his calls that I would listen to in my bedroom on the radio on many childhood summer nights, long after my parents thought I was asleep. It was his enthusiasm and rich baritone voice, along with his wonderful partnership with the great Richie Ashburn, that cemented my love for baseball and the Phillies, even as the team grew terrible in the late '80s and throughout most of the '90s. My love for the game would increase every year even when the team was headed in the wrong direction. I didn't care because Harry would make the game fun. Those early '90s Phillies were terrible, but that never diminished my fervor for them. In fact, with the help of Harry and Whitey (Ashburn), I grew to appreciate these lovable losers.

Sure, Harry wasn't the same after Richie died, and certainly not the same last few years, but I forgave his more frequent mistakes because it was still evident he loved the game and it loved him back. And even as his skills diminished, he was still good for memorable home run calls and great excitement over a thrilling Phillies victory.

My dad was never much of a baseball fan and he would often make fun of Harry for some of his exaggerated calls, but I think he appreciated him, and certainly understood what he meant to me. We actually watched a good bit of yesterday's game together and heard two classic Kalas home run calls on Chase Utley's game-tying blast and Matt Stairs' game-winner. Good stuff. It was nice, but unexpected that my dad would be the first one to call me today to give me the news.

I downloaded the recording of Harry's call of the ninth inning of Game 5 of last year's World Series which clinched the long-awaited championship the day after it happened and I've probably listened to it once a week or so since. It would give me chills and tears every time I'd hear it. I listened to it again as I was typing this and it's every bit as powerful, if not more, than it was six months ago. Every true baseball fan deserves to have a memory described so well by such a talented and genuine man. If you haven't heard it before, download it here:

http://onthedlpodcast.com/clips/phils_champs_harry.mp3

The good stuff really happens from 10:30 onward, but the whole thing is such a joy to listen to. Give it a listen even if you're not a fan. "Brad Lidges stretches. The 0-2 pitch. Swing and a miiiiiisssss. Struck heeem ouuuuuuuuuuuuuut!!!!!!. The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of basebaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllll!!!!!!!" It's just magical.

I was at work today when this all happened and it really made it difficult for me to concentrate after. I never thought I'd be so broken up over the loss of someone I've never met, but then I don't think I've ever spent so much time with someone I've never met. I'm talking thousands of games I've listened to over the last three decades. This is not something I will ever forget.

On my way home from work, I was able to catch the last inning of the game. It was nice to hear the announcers left behind treat the game as a backdrop for their stories of why they loved Harry. People often speak in hyperbole in regards to the departed, but I don't think they are with Harry Kalas. He was beloved because he was great at his work, and he was enthusiastic about both his job and the people he'd connect with that were listening at home. You can't ask for much more in a broadcaster. It was touching and sad to hear Scott Franzke break up as he was signing off for the day. He just couldn't do it and I don't blame him one bit.

Rest in peace, Harry Kalas. If there is an afterlife, I hope you're with Whitey now.

by **Ace Rothstein** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 21:56:26

Wiki says the phillies smoking in the dugout today was a tribute to harry

His memory was also honored by several players smoking cigarettes outside the dugout during a moment of silence before the game. Kalas was a long-time chain smoker.

by 1 » Mon Apr 13, 2009 21:57:40

Ace Rothstein wrote:Wiki says the phillies smoking in the dugout today was a tribute to harry

His memory was also honored by several players smoking cigarettes outside the dugout during a moment of silence before the game. Kalas was a long-time chain smoker.

so does murphy:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phil ... Kalas.html

by **swishnicholson** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 21:57:55

Besides being beloved, of course, the other thing about Harry Kalas is that he was flat out GOOD. I'm sure Richie Ashburn could have done a decent job as a color man anywhere, but the reason he was so special was because he was a Phillie through and through. Kalas could have taken his act anywhere in the country and excelled, and I always felt a little bit of pride when he showed up on national spots, whether on NFL films or elsewhere. The feelings toward Kalas were like a combination of those toward Mike Schmidt, who built up respect slowly through the course of an irreproachable career and those toward Tug McGraw, who certainly had his achievements but mostly won people over his love of the game and rapport with fans. Add to that a level-headed demeanor that seemed to indicate an absence of the demons that haunted either of these two players, and you end up with someone whose level of both love and respect will probably never be duplicated in this town.

by 1 » Mon Apr 13, 2009 22:01:33

two hours of sportsnite. turn on those DVRs.

Website · by **Wolfgang622** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 22:22:28

1 wrote:
Ace Rothstein wrote:Wiki says the phillies smoking in the dugout today was a tribute to harry

His memory was also honored by several players smoking cigarettes outside the dugout during a moment of silence before the game. Kalas was a long-time chain smoker.

so does murphy:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phil ... Kalas.html

Uh... is it just me, or is this sort of a bad tribute? And I smoke sometimes.
It would be as if the friends of someone who was killed by getting hit by a car because he always crossed the street without looking each took a blind dash across the street in his honor. Or something.

by 1 » Mon Apr 13, 2009 22:25:59

i think it's totally lame, but i didn't travel with the guy 180 days a year.

by **td11** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 22:27:42

i saw it more like, we'll take a few seconds off our lives in honor of harry.

by **ReadingPhilly** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 22:53:07

it'd be cool if they added a feature below the liberty bell that lights up and says "that ball is outta here" when the phils go yard

Website · by **Wolfgang622** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 22:59:09

ReadingPhilly wrote:it'd be cool if they added a feature below the liberty bell that lights up and says "that ball is outta here" when the phils go yard

Now that is a great idea.

Website · by **Wolfgang622** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 22:59:49

There will no doubt be some on-uniform tribute.

by **Bucky** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 23:00:00

mozartpc27 wrote:
ReadingPhilly wrote:it'd be cool if they added a feature below the liberty bell that lights up and says "that ball is outta here" when the phils go yard

Now that is a great idea.

by **TenuredVulture** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 23:06:53

mozartpc27 wrote:
1 wrote:
Ace Rothstein wrote:Wiki says the phillies smoking in the dugout today was a tribute to harry

His memory was also honored by several players smoking cigarettes outside the dugout during a moment of silence before the game. Kalas was a long-time chain smoker.

so does murphy:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phil ... Kalas.html

Uh... is it just me, or is this sort of a bad tribute? And I smoke sometimes.
It would be as if the friends of someone who was killed by getting hit by a car because he always crossed the street without looking each took a blind dash across the street in his honor. Or something.

I don't know. I've been thinking about my dad, who while fine today, is also 73 and a smoker. And the thing is, he likes smoking--I doubt he's ever really tried to quit. I don't know if I'd take a puff off a cigarette as a tribute (I think my mother would kill me) but it wouldn't bother me if someone else did. Especially if goes out relatively quickly and painlessly.

by **WilliamC** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 23:14:52

Sportscenter's tribute was very nice.

by **BDawk** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 23:16:23

Harry's passing has just left me heartbroken, don't know what else to say really.

by **scottdg** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 23:16:48

I'm sure I can't say anything at this point that hasn't already been said. I just felt like I was punched in the gut when I heard the news. Most of us never met Harry but we all knew him. He brought an immeasurable amount of joy to my life and this just plain sucks.

Harry Kalas, you are the man.

Archived

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

Quick Reply