I guess you could say it was unexpected. Truth be told, we probably all knew his health was declining. For some reason though, I felt like he was going to call every single Phillies game. I thought my children were going to be able to listen him during those hot summer nights and chilly Fall evenings. I could never imagine listening to game without him. I would turn on the TV. If he wasn't there, then he would surely be on the radio.
Yesterday, I was just relaxing in my bed and then at 3 I turn on the TV to watch the Phils. Right away I knew something was wrong. Listening on the radio, it was worse. Scott Franzke and LA were so deeply hurt, but I loved hearing all the little Harry stories they had to tell. The best part by far was when Shane and Ryan went deep. Scott Franzke in his own voice and in memory of Harry the K, "and yes folks, that of course is outta here."
Everything has already been said about him. He was a wonderful man that treated everyone equally. He loved the players and the players loved him. He was baseball and he was definitely the person you wanted to hear make every call. What really made him special though? He was a fan just like all of us. David Montgomery said it best.
We have lost over voice.
We try to move on now but he'll never be forgotten. It is just so unimaginable to have to watch and listen to a baseball game without Harry's sweet voice narrating it. He mentioned in an interview that his love of baseball began when he went to see the Chicago White Sox play the Washinton Senators. "Because of the rains, the field was covered," he once said. "There was no batting practice, so the players really didn't have anything to do. Mickey Vernon popped out of the dugout, saw this wide-eyed kid -- me -- picked me up, took me in the dugout, gave me a baseball, introduced me to his teammates, and thus began my love of baseball and the Washington Senators." I guess it's only fitting that he passed away in Washington in the broadcasting booth. From now on, after every homerun, every walkoff, every spectacular defensive play, we'll all wonder how Harry would've called it.
Almost champions! 2 down, 1 very large one to go. I still haven't been able to wrap my mind around the idea that the Phillies are in the "Fall Classic." Seriously think about it. Only two teams out of 30 are still playing and the Phillies are one of those teams. Pretty crazy and surreal. The NLDS was good, the NLCS was great but now I'm hoping the World Series is astronomically amazing. Cole was the NLCS MVP (deservedly so). Game 1 tommorrow night at 8:35 on FOX; Cole Hamels vs. Scott Kazmir. Again, and again if you don't want your ears to bleed, WPHT 1210 for Harry Kalas and co.
Champions! Not quite yet actually but 1 down and 2 to go. Great starting pitching and sufficient offense let the Phillies get past the Brewers. Now it's time to focus on LA who swept the heavily favored Cubs. The series starts Thursday with the likely pitching match-up of Cole Hamels for the Phillies and Derek Lowe for the Dodgers.
The game will be broadcast on FOX with the just a bit more bearable [compared to TBS] Joe Buck and Tim McCarver I think. But again if you don't want your ears to bleed out: WPHT 1210 for Harry Kalas and co.
