R.I.P. Harry Kalas
Harry Kalas, known for being the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies, passed away today at the age of 73. Kalas had been the voice of the Phillies since 1971 while also being the voice behind NFL Films highlight reels and video yearbooks. What most people may not realize though is that Kalas also called the Notre Dame Sunday morning replays in the early 80’s when he worked for Westwood One.
Below you can listen to Harry K calling the 1982 upset of #1 ranked Pitt – the biggest win of the Gerry Faust Era and Allen Pinkett’s breakout game. Kalas is also the voice behind the Notre Dame-Miami highlights I posted a couple weeks back.
[youtube]Av4-MFcB_3M[/youtube]
If you read this blog regularly, you know that I’m a life-long die-hard Philadephia sports fan so this news is especially disappointing for me. Harry K is the only voice of baseball I’ve known. Fortunately for Harry, he was able to call a Phillies World Series victory prior to his death this past fall. When the Phillies won the World Series in 1980, Kalas was unable to call the game live because of Major League Baseball broadcasting rules. The following season, the rules were changed, but it wasn’t until this past November that Harry K got to call a Phillies World Series victory when former Notre Dame pitcher Brad Lidge threw a nasty slider to clinch the series for the Phills.
The sports world has lost one of it’s greatest announcers. Rest in peace Harry K, you will be greatly missed.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
In the last home came Harry K called for the Phills, he threw out the first pitch. So his last full season ended in a WS victory, his last home game included him throwing out the first pitch, and he died in the press box preparing for today’s game… not a bad way to go out, even if it was too soon.
Harry Kalas went out on top..seeing the Phillies win a World Series. Great voice that resonated, he will be missed.
Thanks for the link Tom. Harry deserves all of the tributes and then some. It’s going to be tough listening to Phillies games in the future since no one else on the current crew is close to Harry K.
…this is truly a sad day.
Harry Kalas was a true treasure, and we Phillies fans were lucky to have him be such an important part of our team.
Rest well, Harry…you will be sincerely missed.
I can’t believe it. He’s been the only voice of baseball I’ve known too. He will be missed and Phillies games will never be the same. Here’s a tribute blog for Kalas:
http://rememberingharry.mlblogs.com/
its a weird feeling when an annoucer dies. i remeber when chick hearn died. it just aint the same watching the lakers without his voice. If Vion Scully died id probably cry like a lil girl, i lovethat man. rest in peace and be happy you got to hear him as longas you did. you will always have the great memories of him calling some legendary plays