Hey, Harry Kalas, Thanks

In 1971 the Philadelphia Phillies moved into their new state of the art Pro sports facility named Veterans Stadium. At this time also the Phillies had brought in a young executive named Bill Giles to help the Phillies with marketing. I was 7 years old at the time.

Sadly the Phillies had been a “doormat” of a franchise for many years with some exceptions. There was the Whiz Kids of the 1950’s and there were some good teams in the early 1960’s. In fact the year I was born, 1964, is the year the Phillies had an unprecedented collapse in September of 1964 by losing 10 straight games and squandering a 6 1/2 game lead!

Not much improved over the next ten years. Except the excitement of the new stadium opening in 1971. Prior to those years Bill Campbell was a fixture in the broadcast booth. Back then of course, baseball was huge on the radio. Some what of a surprise to the Phillies fans was the hire of a new voice to go with the new stadium. His name was Harry Kalas.

Kalas had been a broadcaster for the Houston Astros from 1965 to 1970. His voice was made for sports broadcasting and his passion for baseball was unmatched. He quickly made us forget how much we missed Campbell. That is not to disrespect Campbell. Harry Kalas was just that good.

Thank goodness to, because the early 1970’s was pretty horrific to watch and hear. But Harry had a way to make terrible games and seasons bearable. In fact one of my favorite seasons as a lifetime Philly fan, was the 1972 campaign in which the Phillies only won 59 games! Yes 59 wins, 97 losses, 37.5 games out of first place!

Why so special? That season Steve Carlton had 27 wins to 10 losses! 45.8% of the teams wins. Carlton also led the N.L. in ERA (1.97), strikeouts (310) and innings pitched (346). He might have won 30 if not for the players’ strike that delayed the opening for the season for 10 days. It also was the season that Mike Schmidt made his major league debut. The future was finally brighter.

Speaking of Carlton and Schmidt. Harry Kalas announced every start Carlton had as a Phillies pitcher and all of Mike Schmidt’s 548 reg season HR’s and post season dingers.

In fact Kalas collapsed the day of his death in the broadcast booth at the Washington Senators stadium preparing to do yet another game. His last game was Sunday night in Colorado.

That means he was a broadcaster from 1965 to 2009. 1971 to 2009 in Philadelphia. He also worked for NFL films for many years as well as doing voice overs for commercial products. Campbell’s Chunky soup probably the most famous ones.  

However to people in Philadelphia he was more than a broadcaster. He was our neighbor and he acted like it. Aside from his tireless charity work it was common for him to be seen round and about mingling among the locals. In fact many people would approach him to record ring tones and phone messages for them and he would gladly do so.

People would constantly approach him and ask him to repeat some of his famous catch phrases and again, he would eagerly oblige. He loved his city, his baseball team, and their fans! He was one of us!

Ironically this is also how he conducted himself among the players. From players past to present, they all talk about Harry sitting on the plane in the back with them. Hanging out with them. He knew everything about them and showed genuine concern for them outside of baseball. And yet they loved talking baseball with him also because the man was a walking baseball encyclopedia and filled with amazing stories.

I will continue to be a huge Phillies fan, but listening and watching the games will never be the same.