Monday, April 13, 2009

Forever a Phillie: RIP Harry Kalas


Rest In Peace, Harry. A piece of Philadelphia has been lost. Very glad the '08 squad sent you out a winner. You will be missed.

The Fightins has the ESPN piece featuring Jayson Stark, former Phillies beat writer for the Inquirer.
“Harry Kalas was baseball in Philadelphia for millions of people. And the thought of watching Phillies games without that voice is unimaginable for me, and millions of other people who I know.”
Exactly.



CAREER HIGHLIGHTS (from ESPN)
Over time, Harry Kalas evolved into one of Philadelphia's beloved sports figures. Some of the more memorable notes in his illustrious broadcasting career:

• Called six no-hitters
• Mike Schmidt's 500th home run on April 18, 1987
• Every one of Steve Carlton's starts from 1972-86
• Pete Rose's 3,631 career hit on Aug. 10, 1981 (which broke Stan Musial's NL record)
• First game at the Houston Astrodome, April 12, 1965
• First game at Veterans Stadium, April 10, 1971
• First game at Citizens Bank Park, April 12, 2004
• Was in his 43rd year as a MLB broadcaster
• Phillies broadcaster since 1971; member of original Astros broadcast team in 1965
• Inducted into the broadcaster's wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002
• Named Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the year 18 times
I'll add to that... how about calling the only two World Series titles the team has ever won? Tuesday, October 21, 1980 and Wednesday, October 29, 2008, dates that will be forever known in the City of Brotherly Love. Although we didn't hear Kalas call the 1980 game live, we know he was his boisterous self.

Kalas' final home run call was the two-run, pinch hit home run by Matt Stairs yesterday versus Colorado.

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