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What a terribly sad way to kick off this year's Nationals home opener: longtime Philadelphia Philies broadcaster Harry Kalas -- known for his signature "that ball is outta here!" home run call and soothing baritone -- collapsed around noon inside the press box at Nationals Park. He was transported to George Washington University Medical Center, where, at 1:20 p.m., he was pronounced dead, according to a Philly.com report. Kalas, who had been the voice of the Phillies for 38 years, was 73. There's no word yet on a cause of death. Today's game is still scheduled to be played, but the Phillies have canceled tomorrow's planned outing to the White House. Fans at the game tell us that Kalas' death was announced and they were asked to rise and observe a moment of silence.
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Baseball is off to a very sad start.
That is sad news. We will forever be remembered by Philly fans as the city that killed Harry.
How very sad. Rest in peace, Harry Kalas.
(And no, @Over the River, I don't think so.)
I don't know, IMS. Philly fans are pretty irrational and have long memories. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if they blame DC for the demise of the GREAT Harry Kalas. Remember, these are the folks who booed and threw snowballs at Santa Claus.
Do you actually remember Philly fans booing and throwing snowballs in 1968?
I was but a wee lad then, but my inebriated uncles allegedly lobbed a few.
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/santa/philadelphia.asp
I think that true Phillies fans are too sad to play the blame game. If you check out the comments on Philly.com they are all condolences and fond memories. It is a sad day. There is something special about summer nights and the people sitting on their porches after dinner listening to the Phillies on their radios hoping for a breeze and to catch the water ice truck. A big part of the soundtrack was Harry Kalas. He will be missed.
Thanks, @Mommyworks, your description of what Harry Kalas brought to Phillies baseball is spot on.
This Philly-area transplant is spending the day in mourning, and I just called and e-mailed my folks to let them know too. All very sad.
God damn it! At least Harry the K got to witness and call that World Series championship.
I'm sure glad I didn't take off work today to head to that game. I would have had to leave the ballpark.
Well shit.
Well shit.
Great. This season is cursed.
Not too fast HCE...this may be the kind of Voodoo sacrifice the Nats needed to jump start their season and winning ways...wait a minute, this the Nats we're talking about, nevermind.
Absolutely devastated here. Almost ducked out of work early today to catch the game, but decided not to. Not sure if that was a good or bad decision now. .
RIP Harry...one of the greats
Why would they go to GWU Hospital when Washington Hospital Center is closer? Anyway, really sad day. He also did voice overs for NFL Films and was the Puppy Bowl Announcer.
Maybe because GWU is closer? Not sure what map you're looking at.
I stand corrected. 1 mile difference.
That's awful!!! Thankfully this wasn't a remake of Hitchcock's classic The Trouble with Harry. Ten to one the Nats still lose the game.
I was just becoming aware of baseball as a kid in Eastern PA during the 1980 season when Philly won the WS. Which did two things:
1) Made me a lifelong Phillies fan, a thankless endeavor until last year.
and
2) Made Harry Kalas' voice the only voice I immediately and forever associated with baseball. I couldn't have told you his name when I was 6 years old, but I could have told you that that voice was, for me, the only real soundtrack to a ball game.
Amen, Ian. I always have, and always will hear Harry's voice in my head when I'm at the ballpark
I echo the condolences, having grown up listening to Phillies games on the radio. I'm now a Nationals fan, but Kalas made for many good baseball memories.
I'm not a big baseball fan, but I'll watch my copy of Puppy Bowl III in his honor. I loved his voice on NFL films.
Not to say that they are cursed, but I remember when Don Drysdale died at his hotel hours before he was suppose to broadcast the Dodgers Expos game in Montreal.