Jstas
04-13-2009, 07:04 PM
I'm a bit upset about it. I was just listening to him yesterday as the Phillies pulled a win in the clinch at the top of the 8th for the go ahead and held off the Rockies in the 9 for the 7-5 win. He was happy and vibrant as ever on the radio.
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090413_Phils_announcer_Harry_Kalas_rushed_to_the _hospital.html
Phils announcer Harry Kalas dies
BY THE INQUIRER STAFF
Harry Kalas, the Phillies' Hall of Fame announcer, died at 1:20 p.m. today, the Phillies announced.
Mr. Kalas was 73.
He collapsed in the press box at Nationals Stadium in Washington at about 12:30 p.m. and was rushed to George Washington University Medial Center.
The cause of the death was not announced. Today's game against the Nationals will be played, but the team will not visit the White House tomorrow.
"We lost Harry today," David Montgomery, the team president, said. "We lost our voice."
Mr. Kalas, who was found unconsious, missed most of spring training after undergoing undisclosed surgery in Feburary. That surgery was unrelated to the detached retina that sidelined him for part of last season.
Mayor Nutter said the death of Mr. Kalas marks "a very sad day for Philadelphia and the region."
Having met him a few times, Nutter recalled him as "hard-working and hard-driving," with "a great sense of humor and a smile."
While players and managers came and went, Nutter said, "The absolute one constant with the Phillies was Harry Kalas."
Mr. Kalas' had a voice that Nutter grew up with, like so many other Philadelphians. And his was a voice that was "often imitated, but never really duplicated," Mayor Nutter said.
Preliminary discussions are taking place about how best to honor Kalas. But it is too soon, the mayor said, to know if that might come in the form of a building or street named after the beloved announcer.
"He was a living sports legend and through his voice has fallen silent, we'll always hear him, when an opponent swings and misses, when a Phillie hits a homerun and when the team wins its next World Series," Mayor Nutter said.
Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) praised Mr. Kalas in a statement.
"As the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies, Harry Kalas was everyone's friend in this region. His incisive commentaries will be sorely missed."
Susan Buehler, president of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of NATAS, today issued this statement upon hearing the news.
"The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences sends our heartfelt condolences to Harry's family, his friends, his colleagues and many generations of fans. In 2002, NATAS bestowed our Chapter's most prestigious honor - the Governor's Award honoring his lifetime achievements. He was a beloved and respected broadcaster in the TV industry with a distinguishing voice that will resonate for years to come."
Mr. Kalas, who turned 73 on March 26, has broadcast Phillies games since 1971. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. He is entering the final season of a 3-year contract that he signed in December 2006.
"Comcast SportsNet and the Philadelphia sports community lost a great man today," Brian Monihan, Comcast SportsNet senior vice president and general manager, said in a statement. "Harry Kalas was the voice of the Phillies, and many of us grew up listening to his legendary calls. It was a pleasure to have him as part of our SportsNet family. We will miss him dearly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Kalas family and the Phillies organization."
Jon Litner, Comcast Sports group president, issued this statement: "The passing of Harry Kalas leaves the Phillies, their fans, our viewers and sports fans everywhere without a treasured voice and unique personality. Harry set the tone for the Phillies' successes, hopes and triumphs for 38 seasons and fittingly he died where he lived so large - in the broadcast booth at the ballpark. The sports broadcasting business has lost a legend and on behalf of our employees, our thoughts go out to his family."
He was the voice of the Phillies since 1971. I used to sit on the porch with my grandfather and a little black and white TV with the sound turned down listening to Harry the K announce the Phillies away games on the radio. Hell, I have an old transistor radio that I took to Phillies games with me so I could listen to Kalas on the radio instead of the in park announcer.
Now God gets to listen to Harry call a Phils game. I'm kinda jealous!
Godspeed Harry, I miss ya already!
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090413_Phils_announcer_Harry_Kalas_rushed_to_the _hospital.html
Phils announcer Harry Kalas dies
BY THE INQUIRER STAFF
Harry Kalas, the Phillies' Hall of Fame announcer, died at 1:20 p.m. today, the Phillies announced.
Mr. Kalas was 73.
He collapsed in the press box at Nationals Stadium in Washington at about 12:30 p.m. and was rushed to George Washington University Medial Center.
The cause of the death was not announced. Today's game against the Nationals will be played, but the team will not visit the White House tomorrow.
"We lost Harry today," David Montgomery, the team president, said. "We lost our voice."
Mr. Kalas, who was found unconsious, missed most of spring training after undergoing undisclosed surgery in Feburary. That surgery was unrelated to the detached retina that sidelined him for part of last season.
Mayor Nutter said the death of Mr. Kalas marks "a very sad day for Philadelphia and the region."
Having met him a few times, Nutter recalled him as "hard-working and hard-driving," with "a great sense of humor and a smile."
While players and managers came and went, Nutter said, "The absolute one constant with the Phillies was Harry Kalas."
Mr. Kalas' had a voice that Nutter grew up with, like so many other Philadelphians. And his was a voice that was "often imitated, but never really duplicated," Mayor Nutter said.
Preliminary discussions are taking place about how best to honor Kalas. But it is too soon, the mayor said, to know if that might come in the form of a building or street named after the beloved announcer.
"He was a living sports legend and through his voice has fallen silent, we'll always hear him, when an opponent swings and misses, when a Phillie hits a homerun and when the team wins its next World Series," Mayor Nutter said.
Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) praised Mr. Kalas in a statement.
"As the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies, Harry Kalas was everyone's friend in this region. His incisive commentaries will be sorely missed."
Susan Buehler, president of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of NATAS, today issued this statement upon hearing the news.
"The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences sends our heartfelt condolences to Harry's family, his friends, his colleagues and many generations of fans. In 2002, NATAS bestowed our Chapter's most prestigious honor - the Governor's Award honoring his lifetime achievements. He was a beloved and respected broadcaster in the TV industry with a distinguishing voice that will resonate for years to come."
Mr. Kalas, who turned 73 on March 26, has broadcast Phillies games since 1971. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. He is entering the final season of a 3-year contract that he signed in December 2006.
"Comcast SportsNet and the Philadelphia sports community lost a great man today," Brian Monihan, Comcast SportsNet senior vice president and general manager, said in a statement. "Harry Kalas was the voice of the Phillies, and many of us grew up listening to his legendary calls. It was a pleasure to have him as part of our SportsNet family. We will miss him dearly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Kalas family and the Phillies organization."
Jon Litner, Comcast Sports group president, issued this statement: "The passing of Harry Kalas leaves the Phillies, their fans, our viewers and sports fans everywhere without a treasured voice and unique personality. Harry set the tone for the Phillies' successes, hopes and triumphs for 38 seasons and fittingly he died where he lived so large - in the broadcast booth at the ballpark. The sports broadcasting business has lost a legend and on behalf of our employees, our thoughts go out to his family."
He was the voice of the Phillies since 1971. I used to sit on the porch with my grandfather and a little black and white TV with the sound turned down listening to Harry the K announce the Phillies away games on the radio. Hell, I have an old transistor radio that I took to Phillies games with me so I could listen to Kalas on the radio instead of the in park announcer.
Now God gets to listen to Harry call a Phils game. I'm kinda jealous!
Godspeed Harry, I miss ya already!