Harry Kalas passes away
by cmkelly29 on Apr 13, 2009 1:36 PM CDT
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WASHINGTON -- Longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas has died at the age of 73, team president David Montgomery said Monday.
Kalas, who had also filled a voiceover role for NFL Films since 1975, was taken to a hospital after passing out in the broadcast booth before Monday's game against the Washington Nationals.
Montgomery's voice was cracking as he said "we have lost our voice."
The 73-year-old Kalas, known for his distinctive "Outta here!" call on home runs, was found by the Phillies director of broadcasting at about 12:30 p.m., Montgomery said.
"He has loved our game and made just a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization," Montgomery said.
Kalas had surgery earlier this year for an undisclosed ailment that the team characterized as minor. He looked somewhat drawn last week as the Phillies opened the season at home.
Kalas joined the Phillies in 1971, the year the club moved into their former home, Veterans Stadium, replacing fan favorite Bill Campbell. Before that, he was an original member of the Houston Astros' broadcast team from 1965-70. Kalas also broadcasted NFL games for Westwood One Radio Network.
He wasn't immediately embraced by Phillies fans, despite being paired with Richie Ashburn, a Hall of Famer as a player, and longtime announcer. But Kalas evolved into a beloved sports figure in Philadelphia. He and Ashburn grew into a popular team, and shared the booth until Ashburn's death in 1997.
In 2002, he received the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award for his contributions to the game.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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His call of Michael Jack Schmidt's 500th...
…still resonates in my head. And I never liked Schmidt.
Rams plagued by fumbles as earthquakes rock Los Angeles. Film at eleven.
one of the great
voices in broadcast history
i always liked the work he did for inside the nfl too
go here to view my blog: http://dirtfromd.blogspot.com
Could listen
to his voice all day. I associate him more with NFL Films than the Phils but I have enjoyed listening to him in recent years call Phillies games on XM Radio. This is a tough thing.
"We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round." - Tony Romo
Me too
Even though I’m not a football fan by any stretch, I do like NFL Films and know him more from that gig. I’m guessing the Phillies and their fans are pretty sad. RIP.
by Black Francis on Apr 13, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Truly the end of an era in broadcasting....
Sad day.
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
ElectricOkra.com
I was watching the Phils/Braves comeback game the other day
and really enjoying Kalas. Phils fans were lucky, it’s like having James Earl Jones commentating for you. For me, it was odd listening to him in real time, and not taped in an NFL Films special.
There’s a group of youngsters out there who will probably say “The Campbell’s Chunky soup guy died.”
One of the greats
Him, the late great Myron Cope and Vin Scully…. Legends That voice will always make me think of football
Keepin it Classy Gentlemen
by Hamiltons Homey on Apr 13, 2009 11:02 PM CDT reply actions
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