Harry Kalas, the legendary voice of the Philadelphia Phillies, died suddenly at age 73 while broadcasting a Phillies vs. Nationals game. Kalas was beloved by Phillies players and fans alike for his signature calls and decades broadcasting games. The Phillies were in shock to learn of Kalas' death right before their game. Players remembered Kalas as treating everyone with respect and truly loving the game of baseball. His passing will leave a void but his iconic calls will live on in Phillies fans' memories.

1. More on the life of Harry Kalas, PAGE C5
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
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HARRY K ALAS
1936-2009
Honoring a legend
Signature calls
“Long drive, watch
this baby, outta here!
‘The Home run!”
“Swing and a miss,
Voice’ is struck hiiim ooout!”
“Can you believe it?”
silenced
He was The Voice on the transistor radio,
“Here’s the pitch …
right down the middle
for a ball.”
the one you kept near your pillow and fell
asleep to as a young boy, only to be awakened “Michael Jack Schmidt”
sometime later by his trademark, “Outta
Here!” Somebody had just
homered, and it was a good “Mitchy-poo”
thing to wake up to, then (for Mitch Williams)
to fall back asleep again.
The Voice reduces you
to tears of joy during a “The
radio recreation of Game 6
of the 1980 World Series as Dude”
Kansas City’s Willie (for Lenny
Wilson dug his cleats in
against Phillies reliever Ed Dykstra)
Tug McGraw:
65,000 plus on their feet Kracz
here at Veterans Stadium. Commentary
“His Whiteness”
The Tugger needs one more.
… Swing and a miss! Yes, he
(for Richie Ashburn)
struck him out! Yes, they did it! The Phillies are
world champions! World champions of baseball!
As the young boy grows, The Voice
becomes a friend. It is with you at the beach,
by the pool, at the family barbecue.
In April of 1987, the voice raises goose
Phillies can’t believe their friend is gone
bumps: BY KEVIN COONEY
Swing and a long drive, there it is, number STAFF WRITER
Team stunned by loss of Hall of Famer
500 — the career 500th home run for Michael
Jack Schmidt! WASHINGTON — The sound was muted on “I mean, we “But I know that “He was the one
Thousands of young boys and girls who the television closest to Brad Lidge’s locker. were sitting Harry was doing guy who was
have grown to become men and women in But that didn’t stop the All-Star closer from there talking exactly what he always there, year
the Delaware Valley have these recollections, watching the video montage of great Harry Kalas to the guy 45 wanted to do. after year. I mean,
these memories, of The Voice. moments that ESPN was rolling at the time. He loved being
Finally, you come face to face with The
minutes he was the voice
“You knew this was one of the greatest guys that
Voice. has ever broadcast the game,” Lidge said. “I mean, beforehand.” in the booth.” of the Phillies.”
It was several years ago, during a Big Five everyone loved him — everybody.” Brett Myers Ryan Howard Jamie Moyer
basketball game at a sold-out Palestra. And when you love somebody so much, it is
Halftime had arrived and, as usual, there awfully tough to say goodbye. Moyer had a special perspective, growing up in A group of Phillies decided to pay homage to
was already a long line outside the men’s It all happened so suddenly to this Phillies team Souderton. He listened to Kalas and long-time Kalas in another way. A few players decided to take
room — the only men’s room — inside the on Monday. One minute, Kalas was walking booth-mate Richie Ashburn from the time he first a drag on a cigarette — one of Kalas’ legendary
venerable basketball arena. Once inside the through the locker room making his normal pre- started getting interested in baseball when he was 9 habits was smoking — before the game in honor of
lavatory, there is another line, a smaller one, game small talk. The next, team president David years old in 1971. him.
maybe six or seven men. At last it is my turn Montgomery was informing the players about an “He was the one guy who was always there, year “To me, that’s something I’ll always remember
at the urinal. Just then, a voice thunders: hour before game time that the Hall of Fame voice after year,” Moyer said. “I mean, he was the voice him by,” outfielder Shane Victorino said. “He
All right everybody, Outta Here! of the franchise had died suddenly after being of the Phillies. You could rely on that.” loved the game and his family, for sure. But I’ll
Everybody inside the cramped men’s found unconscious on the floor of the visiting tele- Players were in the middle of pre-game stretch- always remember him puffing on a cigarette. That
room howls in laughter. You turn, and there’s vision broadcasting booth at Nationals Park. ing and batting practice before the Nationals’ home was HK to me.”
The Voice — in person, up close, Harry “I mean, we were sitting there talking to the guy opener when Kalas was rushed out of the seventh- Kalas will always be remembered for the big
Kalas, Harry the K. 45 minutes beforehand,” stunned pitcher Brett floor broadcasting booth where he had collapsed call. Back in 1980, the national networks held
Years later, a chance to tell Harry that Myers said after the Phillies posted a 9-8 victory and to George Washington University Hospital, exclusive rights to radio broadcasts for the World
story arrives. over the Washington Nationals. “And he treated us where he was pronounced dead at 1:20 p.m. Series, so Kalas didn’t get the chance to tell the
The voice had, just weeks earlier, reduced all — from the veterans to the rookies — with such “I knew that when I came in from stretching story of Tug McGraw striking out Willie Wilson for
you to tears yet again when Brad Lidge respect. It’s just tough, man.” and saw Mr. Montgomery walking into the locker the final out of the Phils’ first World Sereis title.
struck out Tampa Bay’s Eric Hinske to give For years, most players were reverential when it room that close to game time with tears in his eyes But in October, Kalas made the most of his
the Phillies their second World Series cham- came to Kalas. He had built up strong relationships that something bad happened,” Myers said. moment of glory when Lidge got Eric Hinske to
pionship: within the locker room from almost every group When asked what the locker room reaction was swing over a slider to end Game 5 and give the
One strike away, nothing-and-two the count to that he managed to broadcast. Often, he would sit when Montgomery broke the news of Kalas’ pass- Phils a World Series title.
Hinske. Fans on their feet, rally towels are being in the back of the plane — the players’ hangout on ing, Moyer was simple. “It was as silent as it is “I will forever feel fortunate that I was able to be
waved. Brad Lidge stretches. The 0-2 pitch — charter flights. right now,” he said, referring to the eerie stillness of there and he was the guy who was able to call it,”
swing and a miss, struck him out! The “You looked at what he did as a broadcaster,” the post-game locker room. Lidge said. “Every time I hear that, I’ll think about
Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 world Phils pitcher Jamie Moyer said. “He felt like your Some players were more philosophical. “It’s sad Harry and it will have a lot more meaning than it
champions of baseball! dad. That’s what good broadcasters do. He because he was such a great guy and a legend,” did before.”
The World Series trophy is on display at explained the game and he truly told you how Phils slugger Ryan Howard said. “But I know that
Harry was doing exactly what he wanted to do. He Kevin Cooney can be reached at
much he loved the game. And players respected kcooney@phillyBurbs.com.
See KRACZ, Page C5 that.” loved being in the booth.”
Editor: Jeff Beideman, 215-345-3076, High school editor: Brad Wilson, Community editor: Angie Mountain, Sports department
jbeideman@phillyBurbs.com 215-345-3070 bwilson@phillyBurbs.com 215-345-3065 amountain@phillyBurbs.com fax number: 215-345-3150