The Voice We Knew and Loved

To many of us Philadelphia Phillies fans, the loss of Harry Kalas is like losing a family member. What makes losing a family member so difficult is the fact that we can't imagine our lives without them. You go to sleep every night confident that they will be there when you awake. When they aren't, it's an uneasy feeling that can't be described. That's the best way I can explain the emotion that Philadelphia is feeling right now.

A signature broadcaster is a rare thing in sports. We think of names like Harry Cary, John Madden, Marv Albert and - at least for Phillies fans - Harry Kalas. Made famous by his child-like excitement for the game and his signature catch phrase - "it's 'outta' here!" - Harry Kalas was more than just a voice to so many. In Philadelphia, he was synonymous with baseball.

He was there to announce the two Phillies World Championships, first in 1980 and just this past season.

It's an old cliché in baseball to 'play every game as if it were your last' and that's exactly how Harry announced. Even those who knew him well could hardly tell the difference between a loss or a win by Harry's voice, because he was equally excited no matter what the outcome was. It didn't matter if the Phillies were in a hunt to win the division or they were suffering their ten thousandth franchise loss. To Harry, time stopped with every fly ball deep to right field.

It's hard to imagine what life will be like when Philadelphia wakes up tomorrow morning and Harry isn't there. He sat in that booth for so many years; most of us assumed he always would. It's hard to imagine what will happen the next time Ryan Howard hits a fly ball deep to right field. Ryan hasn't hit a homerun yet that Harry hasn't called, just like so many Phillies.

In the minds of many of us, the Phillies won't quite be the same. For nearly 40 years, the Phillies hit a lot of long fly balls deep to right field and it was Harry's voice that willed them 'outta here.' Now, those hits will simply land safely in the crowd. They'll count for just the same, but they won't feel the same.

To Harry: our voice, our legend, our soul, but most of all, our friend.

We will always remember the joy you brought to all of our hearts.

We will forever miss you.

Godspeed, old friend.

Harry Kalas

1936 - 2009