A truly sad week for the Phillies family as our Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away at the age of 73 on Monday.
Even if it was a one-sided friendship, Harry was one of our best friends. Every single night of my childhood from April to late September, I would wait for my parents to go downstairs after tucking me in and jump out of bed to turn on the radio to listen to Harry and Whitey and Andy Musser and Wheels (and later Scott Graham), and I know that so many others across the Delaware Valley did the same thing growing up. As I type this I’m watching the Phils-Nationals (c’mon guys, it’s the NATIONALS!) and it’s just not the same, and it never will be again. Monday we lost a true legend, and a big part of our lives. Harry, you will be missed. Phillies baseball won’t be the same.
In true poetic justice, Harry passed away in the place he loved most, the broadcast booth. He passed away in the city that was home to the team that first created his love for baseball, the Washington Senators. And Harry finally got to call the final out of a World Series win for the Fightins in his last full season in the booth.
Looking forward, I am very impressed by the way the Phillies have chosen to honor Harry the K. This organization hasn’t always pleased the fans, especially during the lean years in the 90’s and early 00’s, but in recent years they have really made up for it. For example, they incorporated so much of their rich history into Citizens Bank Park, from Ashburn Alley to the Bull’s BBQ to Harry the K’s Restaurant out in left. They really have done a fantastic job in honoring their past and the legends who have worn the Phillies “P” on their hat. The tributes the Phillies will make to Harry go far beyond the black “HK” patch on the left side of the jersey, and rightfully so. As David Montgomery said, Harry was, is, and always will be “our voice”. The full list can be found on the Phillies website.
As for the team itself, they gutted through Monday’s game with heavy hearts and pulled out a 9-8 win. Ryan Howard had a monster 3 run home-run, and Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez also homered for the Phightins. Shane’s home-run, the first since Harry’s passing, prompted radio announcer Scott Franzke to pay homage to the signature home-run call, saying “…and yes folks, it’s outta here.” I thought that was a very classy tribute by Scott, and it was good for him to say since every fan was thinking the same thing at the time. Lidge gave up 2 in the 9th but managed to hang on for the save.
After a Wednesday rainout, the Phillies fell to the Nationals on Thursday night by an 8-2 final. They will take on the San Diego Padres for a four game series beginning Friday night, a night that will surely be filled with memories of Harry the K.
(Courtesy of Where's T-Mac correspondent John Tecce)
