590 MIGHTY MEMORY #556

PHOTO INDEX: THE LATE HARRY KALAS AND TOMMY WOODS AND SON, CIRCA 1980, AND HARRY KALAS IN PHILLIES BROADCAST ATTIRE.

HARRY KALAS

A major part of WARM Radio history was the broadcasting of Philadelphia Phillie games. An intregal part of that era was Harry Kalas as the lead broadcaster of the National League team. We have two tributes from past WARM personalities Tommy Woods and Michael Neff.

Hi Folks

It was very sad to hear that Harry Kalas, the Philadelphia Phillies announcer passed away....here's a picture of my son Tommy, Harry and me taken back in the 80's.
Tom

AND FROM MICHAEL NEFF:

Editor -Philadelphia Phillies fans were shocked and saddened on Monday by the abrupt passing of "The Voice of The Phillies." An energetic 73, Harry Kalas was in the broadcast booth preparing for a game in Washington DC as the Phillies were about to face the Nationals. It was to be a game he would not describe. You've heard Harry Kalas many times, and, perhaps, were unaware. He was the Voice of NFL Films, Campbell's Soup, GMC Truck,Westwood One network football games and other radio-TV appearances. Like baseball broadcasters Vin Scully, Jon Miller, Harry Caray, and John Sterling, Harry Kalas had one of those "lazy Sunday afternoon" announcing styles making the National Past Time so enjoyable on the RADIO. All was well with the world when Harry's silky voice came gently booming through the speaker. He focused on the game and provided insightful analysis in his banter with his broadcast partners ... most notably the late Richie Ashburn. As a life-long Phillies fan, I grew up listening to games with the legendary By Saam and Bill Campbell on W B P Z in my hometown of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Many nights, a tiny transistor radio accompanied our group of aspiring ballplayers while we played Strat-O-Matic Baseball, the board game replicating our boyhood passion for the sport. The year Harry joined the broadcast crew, somehow, the game itself sounded "modernized." To our ears, it was a great merger of tradition with a fresh, new approach. Harry Kalas will now be announcing games in a distant ballpark, at present, we cannot hear. One day, we will. Until then, whenever I catch a Phillies home run call, I will fondly remember his signature ..."It's Outta Here!" The wonder of baseball Harry Kalas inspired will always be here, too.

Michael Neff