WASHINGTON -- Popular long-time Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas has died at Nationals Park today, the team confirmed. He was 73.Kalas, also known for his voiceover work with NFL Films, was in his 39th season with the Phillies.
According to The Associated Press, team president David Montogomery said Kalas was found in the team's broadcast booth by the Phillies director of broadcasting at about 12:30 PM and taken to a local hospital.
"He was an all-time great person and to lose him ... is just shocking," Nationals assistant general manager Bob Boone said. Boone played for the Phillies from 1972-81 and helped lift the club to its first world championship in 1980.
"Harry had been such a class person and had so many friends around baseball," he said. "The baseball world is going to miss [him] tremendously."
It has been a tragic start to the baseball season, with Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart killed last week in a car crash.
"Well I think all of us know that we'll try to do the best we can," Phillies third-base coach Sam Perlozzo said. "I don't think it's gonna get out of our heads. I don't think that's gonna happen, at least not for a while. So, I think we'll all pull for each other and help each other out and try to get through it."
"Major League Baseball has lost one of the great voices of our generation," said commissioner Bud Selig in a statement. "Baseball announcers have a special bond with their audience, and Harry represented the best of baseball not only to the fans of the Phillies, but to fans everywhere."
The Nationals held a moment of silence before today's game against the Phillies.
In 2002, Kalas was given the Ford C. Frick Award and inducted into the broadcasters' wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Kalas began his broadcasting career in Hawaii while serving in the Army. He joined the Houston Astros' announcing team in 1965 and moved to the Phillies in 1971. He also broadcast NFL games for the Westwood One radio network.
Phillies fans were so upset they could not listen to Kalas during the 1980 World Series because of national broadcast exclusivity that the rules were changed the following year.
"He was one of us when we won the World Series," said Boone. "We knew that his team was the Phillies. He was a Philly guy."
Kalas was named Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the Year 18 times. At the time of this death he was sixth in tenure among major-league broadcasters, after Vin Scully (1950), Milo Hamilton (1953), Jaime Jarrin (1959), Jerry Coleman (1960) and Ralph Kiner (1962).
FanHouse's Andrew Johnson contributed to this report.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-13-2009 @ 2:42PM
frederick marcus said...
for philadelphia fans this is beyond tragic. for me, he and richie ashburn were more than just the media. they were family. when richie died i wept as if he was family. the upside was that i still had harry to make my connection to the phillies a family affair. the loss of harry is the same as when richie left. a death in the family. it will never be the same for me. they had a way to make me feel part of the phillies organization. they could empathize with us. they had our passion. i'm in shock.
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4-13-2009 @ 2:45PM
jtrol0458 said...
Rest in peace Harry
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4-13-2009 @ 2:50PM
kudubwrong said...
Watching and listening to a Phillie's game will never be the same. RIP Harry, and if his family is reading these... our prayers are with you all.
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4-13-2009 @ 2:56PM
Scottigger said...
From a long time die hard Mets fan -- I grieve with all Phillies players and fans over the loss of one of the greatest sports voices of all time. Harry was a true gem to listen to, and he clearly loved his Phillies. Like another past great, Jack Buck (Cardinals), Harry was great whether calling a Phillies game or an NFL game. Glad he got to enjoy such a memorable post season last year. His call of the final out was one of the greatest I've ever heard. God rest his soul and his unforgettable voice.
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4-13-2009 @ 3:04PM
fireswain said...
Harry Kalas will be missed by Phillies fans everywhere. I am surprised at how shaken I am by this news. The deepest, earliest memories I have include listening to Harry and Whitey on the radio. He was always there...to be counted on. He was a treasure to the game of baseball and the city of Philadelphia. It makes last season that much sweeter.
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4-13-2009 @ 4:25PM
Greer said...
Only the death of Gene Hart of the Flyers can match the loss to the Philly area. The big three, Hart, Ashburn and now Kalas, will be forever missed. As mentioned by others, they were like family to all of us, and listening to Phillies baseball will never be the same. GOD BLESS YOU HARRY!
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4-13-2009 @ 4:36PM
starcityk9lover said...
I grew up in southwest Virginia; and I continue to live there. I have been a Phillies fan since the late '70s when I was just eight or nine years old. People often wonder howI got to be such a die-hard Phillies fan. Some suspect that Mike Schmidt and his 536 home runs had something to do with it, others think that perhaps Lefty and all of those strikeouts converted me. None of those people were wrong, but none were right, either. The answer to how a little kid from Va, living in appalachia, became such a Phillies fan, and remains one to this day, lies with how Harry Kalas called those home runs and strikeouts. Harry made listening to the Phillies fun, interesting and mostly exciting. So much so that I could not wait for it to get dark (I can only pick up the Phillies flag ship station after the sun has gone down in Va. so ther signal can bounce off the ionosphere.) so I could listen to the Phillies instead of watching tv. I still love listining to the phillies on a warm summer evening on the car radio; but this year and foreever more it will not be the same. I will miss you this summer, Harry - we all will.
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4-13-2009 @ 4:40PM
hey hot stuff said...
damn shame what a phillie fan he was and just the best voice ever in sports the last out in the series will go down as one of the best in my book glad I have the dvd of it!!! GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL HARRY--- you will be missed
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4-13-2009 @ 5:03PM
aleceiffgil said...
There are moments in someones life where your heart hurts so much that your eyes just can't hold back the tears no matter how hard you try to. Today is one of those days for all of the Philadelphia area. I just can't beleive he's gone. The first thing i did in finding out this sad news was call my dad. We both were so choked up, that after a long couple minutes of silence. My dad finally let out a "I'm sorry son, i'll have to call you later, it's not easy hearing guys like this leaving us, I love you son". Harry K your were the little kid in all of us. We're gonna miss you buddy. All of Philly loves you.....Outta here
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4-13-2009 @ 5:37PM
svno1stat said...
The Philadelphia family has lost another of it's favorite sons. Imagine the reunion going on in heaven right now. A new "field of dreams" team is playing and that famous voice is doing play by play. We will miss you Harry. Thoughts and prayers with all your family and friends.
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4-13-2009 @ 6:27PM
jelybean225 said...
i loved harry he was the best announcer way better than sarge the loss is unbelievable
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4-13-2009 @ 6:53PM
rvinman51 said...
THE SPORTS WORLD JUST LOST A GREAT GUY.
R.I.P.HARRY
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4-13-2009 @ 7:24PM
jhavlic said...
I am org. from Boston and remember the day Johnnie "High above court-side" Most died. I have been in South Jersey for close to 30 yrs and have always felt Harry was one of the 2 greatest baseball voices I have ever heard. If there is any bright side to any of this and it's meant in the highest respects at least him and Whitey are back together calling the best ball games known to man.
God bless you Harry, you will always be missed.
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4-13-2009 @ 9:47PM
gort, g'day eh? said...
You and "Whitey" Ashburn have a lot of catching up to do. What a great announcing team you two were. At least you had last year (and '80 and that wild '93) R I P
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4-14-2009 @ 12:04AM
mdiverou812 said...
I think as a tribute to HARRY all Phillies Phans should record the final call of the World Series on their cell phones and use it as their ringtone.At least for the season.I think it would be awesome to hear that call thousands of times a day all over the city.Do it for HARRY!!!! Pass it on!!!!
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4-14-2009 @ 6:06PM
kevin said...
What a sad day for baseball. Every year I would tell myself and others.."Boy,you really know its the season when you here that signature voice of Harry Kalas on the t.v. or radio." Baseball just will not be the same for me. I looked forward to hearing that voice every time I watched a game. To a great man and role model, you knocked alot of peoples hearts "outta heere!" with your grace and presence and you will be truly missed.. R.I.P. Harry the great
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4-15-2009 @ 5:16PM
skoolbeans said...
This is truely a great loss.
I used to listen to Bill Cambell/Byran Salm
as voice of Phillies. When they brought in Harry, I said oh no. AFter a couple years, Harry grew on you. So to you Mr Kalas, It was great listening to you. Your a true giant. Your mark will be left for years to come. Take it easy on folks upstairs, especially Richie. R.I.P.
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