A sad day in Philly...

[VonMessa]

The voice of the Philadelphia Phillies (for longer than I have been alive) has left us today 

http://www.kyw1060.com/-font-color-red-BREAKING-NEWS---font--Harry-Kalas-/4193394

You will be sorely missed, Harry.

Anyone who has ever followed the Phils will never forget some of his catch-phrases.

A few etched in my memory.........

"Third-baseman Michael Jack Schmidt"

"Going....going....going...... That ball's OOOUUUTTAA HERE !"

and many others (too many to count)

Too many times I have turned down the volume on the TV and tuned in the radio broadcast just to hear old Harry.

 

[VonMessa]

Glad he got to see the Phils win the 2008 Championship..

[ROX]

I hate to see that.     and condolances to the family, friends, fans & team.


ROX

[gusman]

Glad he got to see the Phils win the 2008 Championship..

+1

  Harry from a Met fan

gus

[ROX]

I know how dark it seemed as a Cub fan when Harry Carray passed away.  Same for his son Skip if I remember right.  Sometimes we take these icons for granted.  We ASSUME that everytime the game is on we can simply turn the knob and the guy we know and respect to give us the interviews, play-by-play, and commentary will always be there.

Then we remember the fun times.  Playoffs, pennant chases, and even when the late Bill Veek (former owner of the White Sox) would show up in the cheap seats in the left field bleachers at Wrigley near the outdoor shower in a t-shirt and shorts---take off his prosthetic leg and pass it around, and an ice cold golden adult beverage in his hand--And Harry Carray yucking it up live---laughing so hard he missed a call or two.

I hope you all have those kind of memories about Mr. Kalas 



ROX

[caldera]

I was born and raised in Philly. Remember taking a radio to the games at the Vet just to hear him call the game. Like Merril for the Eagles, but an even bigger icon. I'm so glad he got to see their only two championships.  Harry.

[VonMessa]

He was the voice of summer around here..

He was also the voice that the whole country hears doing the dramatic read for "Inside the NFL"

Folks like him and Harry Carray, make the newer guys like Joe Buck look like amateur hacks.

There was no doubt that he was an honest fan of the Phils.  You can't fake that kind of devotion.

http://www.geocities.com/1980phillies/sounds.html

http://www.entertonement.com/collections/6360/Harry-Kalas

[Hajo]

I remember growing up and listening to Jimmy Dudley on Tribe broadcasts and Bob Prince on Pirates Broadcasts.

Back in the day when transistor radios were introduced my brother and I when younger would tune our transistor radios in to
find west coast ball games when we were sent to bed.  We picked up games coast to coast.  Ernie Harwell, and Carray who was
broadcasting Cardinal games at that time.  Vin Skully....any ballgame we could pick up.

These old time broadcasters made you feel as if you were sitting in a field box watching the game.  And this was maybe at 1 or 2am.
I remember our parents hearing our radios and our mother would get up and tell us to shut off the radios!   

I also remember my Dad telling us the next morning....don't play them that loud.  Where are the ear pieces you got with the radio?
Go ahead and listen....but don't tell your mother I told you! 

[ROX]

Harry Carray & Jimmy Pearsall used to call the White Sox games on WMAQ-670 Radio Chicago in the 70's.  Harry had already called Cardinals ball for years and deserved the move up to a larger market--he also was known for his party lifestyle and not listening to company policy on drinking during the games.

Jimmy was a former ballplayer turned broadcaster who had had a series of mental breakdowns after his playing career and had been in and out of mental institutions for a few years before getting himself straightened out.

A late night game was in extra innings.  Harry usually had a beer an inning after the 7th inning stretch (he was a pitchman on air for Strohs, so he was just "proving" he believed in the product).  When a game went into extra innings--Harry was already slurring a word or two.

In the 14th inning--Harry was pretty well hammered and Jimmy was doing more play by play than color.  When Harry seemed to resent Jimmy's overstepping his bounds as color commentator--Jimmy says " well, somebody has to do it...your DRUNK!".

Without missing a beat, Harry says (in true Harry Carray style)..."I may be drunk but at least I'm not crazy!"

200,000 fans listening had sore sides the next day from        

I nearly drove off the road.

I know your Harry wasn't quite the broadcasting outlaw ours was--but yours will be missed by more than just Philly fans 

I'd hate to be in the next Philly P-B-P guys shoes...whoever they get won't have nearly big enough feet.



ROX

[Saurdaukar]

Glad he got to see the Phils win the 2008 Championship..

+1

Listened to him growing up and was listening on the radio as they gave periodic updates on his condition down here in DC, yesterday.

"High-fly-ball-to-deep-left-center-field-its-outta-here-home-run-Bobby-Abreau."

(Which, of course, must be read with an ever increasing volume level and a monotone voice) 

RIP, sir.

[VonMessa]

+1

Listened to him growing up and was listening on the radio as they gave periodic updates on his condition down here in DC, yesterday.

"High-fly-ball-to-deep-left-center-field-its-outta-here-home-run-Bobby-Abreau."

(Which, of course, must be read with an ever increasing volume level and a monotone voice) 

RIP, sir.

Wow, Bobby Abreau..................

Haven't heard that name in 10 years       

[bizz]

Harry Carray & Jimmy Pearsall used to call the White Sox games on WMAQ-670 Radio Chicago in the 70's.  Harry had already called Cardinals ball for years and deserved the move up to a larger market--he also was known for his party lifestyle and not listening to company policy on drinking during the games.

Jimmy was a former ballplayer turned broadcaster who had had a series of mental breakdowns after his playing career and had been in and out of mental institutions for a few years before getting himself straightened out.

A late night game was in extra innings.  Harry usually had a beer an inning after the 7th inning stretch (he was a pitchman on air for Strohs, so he was just "proving" he believed in the product).  When a game went into extra innings--Harry was already slurring a word or two.

In the 14th inning--Harry was pretty well hammered and Jimmy was doing more play by play than color.  When Harry seemed to resent Jimmy's overstepping his bounds as color commentator--Jimmy says " well, somebody has to do it...your DRUNK!".

Without missing a beat, Harry says (in true Harry Carray style)..."I may be drunk but at least I'm not crazy!"

200,000 fans listening had sore sides the next day from        

I nearly drove off the road.

LMAO!!! That was freaking funny   I often wonder if the Cubs would have become as popular nation wide if Harry didnt call all those games on WGN TV. I never liked the Cubs but I enjoyed listening to Harry call a game.