In Memory of Harry Kalas

The news broke just hours before the legendary voice of the Phillies was about to enter my television set, doing what he has always done for as long as I have watched the Phillies. Harry Kalas was just hours away from bringing me the play by play of the Phillies game against the Nationals. Sadly, it was not to be as Kalas has passed away, at the age of 73.

Kalas was found passed out in the press box about an hour and a half before the Nationals' home opener. He was rushed to George Washington University hospital and not long after David Montgomery held a brief press conference with beat reporters to announce that Kalas was no longer with us.

This is a sad day for Phillies fans, and baseball fans all over. Nobody defined the Phillies the way Kalas did. Kalas is an icon of the franchise in the same group as Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, and of course, Richie Ashburn. It was with Ashburn that Kalas formed the terrific duo of Phillies broadcasters for the better part of two decades.

Feel free to share your Harry Kalas memories in the comments section, as we will continue to pay tribute to Harry the K all week long and I am sure for a long time after that. I'll add some more thoughts later on.

Harold Norbert "Harry" Kalas
March 26, 1936 - April 13, 2009

We will miss you.