Harry Kalas.. wow!

[whythecardinals]

I thread to pay respect to a man who touched MANY OF our hearts with words and enthusiasm: NFL films.... The voice of Philadephia Eagles and Phillies... a few campbell soup commercials, the man was magical and knew his stuff. The Eagle nation lost a great friend, today..... Eternal Rest grant unto him Oh Lord, and ....

Thanks Harry!:numberone: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[FitzOnFire]

This is a sad day, R.I.P Kalas, you are a legend and will never be replaced.

[KidStallyn]

NFL Highlights will NEVER be the same.....

R.I.P Harry.......

[NJCardFan]

Since this thread is already started I will just contribute to this one and being a lifelong Phillies fan, please allow me to be rather long winded.

We lost a great one today. And Harry the K, which is what he was called, is now in broadcast heaven with his good friend Richie Ashburn and other Philadelphia broadcast legends Gene Hart, and the man Harry succeeded, By Saam. When I first started to watch baseball and ingrained myself a Phillies fan growing up in South Jersey, Harry Kalas began his career as Phillies broadcaster. He was an instant hit. His unmistakable voice, often filled with passion and excitement, would keep you on the edge of your seat regardless of the outcome. When playing sandlot baseball, everytime one of us would hit a long one, we'd always emulate Harry's "It's a loooonnnggg drive...deep left field...outta here, home run Michael Jack Schmidt!" A line that would always get you cheering.

But, as was said, Harry didn't just belong to us. When the late great John Facenda passed away, Harry filled in for NFL Films and immediately became a fan favorite. Harry also was the play by play announcer for Notre Dame football. As well as commercial voiceovers most notably for Campbells Chunky Soup.

But my memory of him will always be the day I had the honor of meeting him. 1985 and it wasn't a banner year for the Phils. But as we were walking outside the stadium, Harry was making his way in for the game. Always cordial, he took the time to say hello and to shake everyone's hand. I'll never know if we were imposing but if we were, Harry didn't let on. But one of Harry's greatest home run calls came on a Saturday afternoon in April 1987, during a meaningless early season game in Pittsburgh. Leading up to Mike Schmidt's 500th home run, everyone wondered how Harry would call it. Everyone gave their impression of how the call would go. Harry, to that point, called 499 of Schmitty's home runs and we wondered if this would be hit trade mark call I mentioned above. Well, with the Phils trailing by 2 with 2 out in the 9th, Schmidt came to the plate. Harry makes mention that now was a good time for #500. Then it came. With a mighty swing, Schmidt sent the ball flying and Harry let loose, "Swing and a long drive, there it is, #500! The career 500th home run for Michael Jack Schmidt!" No one could have said it better.

And then there was this past season. 28 years in the making. When on October 29th, Harry got to announced to the world that at long last the Phillies were champions of baseball. And then Harry did something he'd been doing for years starting in 1993 when the Phillies won the pennant. He came down on the field, grabbed a mike, and in his euphoric, off key voice sang High Hopes. Everyone went wild. And finally, after a rocky start to this season, Harry called his final home run call as one of the hero's of the LCS, Matt Stairs hit a 2 run home run to seal a great come from behind win. Then today, Harry collapsed in the broadcast booth. He was pronounced dead a short while later. There was no better place in the world Harry should have passed in. The broadcast booth. It's a Biblical ending to a great life and an even greater career. We will be honoring Harry tomorrow on what was supposed to be the Phillies trip to the White House. President Obama will have to wait. Tomorrow is Harry's day. I'm going to miss you, Harry the K. Baseball will never be the same without you. It will be a travesty if a statue in your honor isn't erected out front of Citizens Bank Park. A city and a baseball community will mourn but you're memorable voice will be in our hearts forever.

[whythecardinals]

Since this thread is already started I will just contribute to this one and being a lifelong Phillies fan, please allow me to be rather long winded.

We lost a great one today. And Harry the K, which is what he was called, is now in broadcast heaven with his good friend Richie Ashburn and other Philadelphia broadcast legends Gene Hart, and the man Harry succeeded, By Saam. When I first started to watch baseball and ingrained myself a Phillies fan growing up in South Jersey, Harry Kalas began his career as Phillies broadcaster. He was an instant hit. His unmistakable voice, often filled with passion and excitement, would keep you on the edge of your seat regardless of the outcome. When playing sandlot baseball, everytime one of us would hit a long one, we'd always emulate Harry's "It's a loooonnnggg drive...deep left field...outta here, home run Michael Jack Schmidt!" A line that would always get you cheering.

But, as was said, Harry didn't just belong to us. When the late great John Facenda passed away, Harry filled in for NFL Films and immediately became a fan favorite. Harry also was the play by play announcer for Notre Dame football. As well as commercial voiceovers most notably for Campbells Chunky Soup.

But my memory of him will always be the day I had the honor of meeting him. 1985 and it wasn't a banner year for the Phils. But as we were walking outside the stadium, Harry was making his way in for the game. Always cordial, he took the time to say hello and to shake everyone's hand. I'll never know if we were imposing but if we were, Harry didn't let on. But one of Harry's greatest home run calls came on a Saturday afternoon in April 1987, during a meaningless early season game in Pittsburgh. Leading up to Mike Schmidt's 500th home run, everyone wondered how Harry would call it. Everyone gave their impression of how the call would go. Harry, to that point, called 499 of Schmitty's home runs and we wondered if this would be hit trade mark call I mentioned above. Well, with the Phils trailing by 2 with 2 out in the 9th, Schmidt came to the plate. Harry makes mention that now was a good time for #500. Then it came. With a mighty swing, Schmidt sent the ball flying and Harry let loose, "Swing and a long drive, there it is, #500! The career 500th home run for Michael Jack Schmidt!" No one could have said it better.

And then there was this past season. 28 years in the making. When on October 29th, Harry got to announced to the world that at long last the Phillies were champions of baseball. And then Harry did something he'd been doing for years starting in 1993 when the Phillies won the pennant. He came down on the field, grabbed a mike, and in his euphoric, off key voice sang High Hopes. Everyone went wild. And finally, after a rocky start to this season, Harry called his final home run call as one of the hero's of the LCS, Matt Stairs hit a 2 run home run to seal a great come from behind win. Then today, Harry collapsed in the broadcast booth. He was pronounced dead a short while later. There was no better place in the world Harry should have passed in. The broadcast booth. It's a Biblical ending to a great life and an even greater career. We will be honoring Harry tomorrow on what was supposed to be the Phillies trip to the White House. President Obama will have to wait. Tomorrow is Harry's day. I'm going to miss you, Harry the K. Baseball will never be the same without you. It will be a travesty if a statue in your honor isn't erected out front of Citizens Bank Park. A city and a baseball community will mourn but you're memorable voice will be in our hearts forever.

:cheers: :iagree: :cheers:

I know you and other fans of Philadelphia teams are hurting... he had the kind of voice that defined memories.... As for your thoughts: Well said, dog! Well done!

[NJCardFan]

I actually feel like I lost a family member today. I think what makes this one hurt so much is that it was so sudden. Comcast Sports Channel replayed yesterdays game against Colorado, Harry's last. It was a win and the last Phillies runs were called with that famous home run call.