Hall of Fame Sports Broadcaster. He did play-by-play radio and television broadcasting for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1971 until his death in 2009, a span of 38 years. He was awarded the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Broadcasting Award in 2002. Born in Naperville, Illinois, he began his broadcasting career in 1962 while stationed in Hawaii during his service in the United States Army. Three years later he was hired by the Houston Astros to broadcast their games, and was with Houston from 1965 until 1971, when the Phillies brought him into their broadcasting fold. Eventually paired up with Hall of Fame player Richie Ashburn, the duo became sports icons in Philadelphia, and their calls on significant Phillies events became an indelible part of the city's sports lore and memory. When the Phillies advanced to the World Series in 1980, Major League baseball rules did not permit local broadcasters to do the games, a situation that caused massive fan disappointment that they could not hear Kalas and Ashburn. After the Phillies won the series, the public outcry and criticism prompted Major League Baseball to change the rules, which now allow local sportscasters to do the games on local radio. 28 years later this allowed Harry Kalas to broadcast all the games of the 2008 World Series involving the eventual champion Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays to local fans. From 1975 he was the voice of NFL Films, and he was involved in numerous sports and local charities during his tenure. His standard call for a home run - "That ball is outta here", has become one of the legendary baseball calls. He was preparing to broadcast a game between the Phillies and the Washington Nationals when he collapsed in the broadcasting booth and died shortly later at the age of 73.
Hall of Fame Sports Broadcaster. He did play-by-play radio and television broadcasting for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1971 until his death in 2009, a span of 38 years. He was awarded the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Broadcasting Award in 2002. Born in Naperville, Illinois, he began his broadcasting career in 1962 while stationed in Hawaii during his service in the United States Army. Three years later he was hired by the Houston Astros to broadcast their games, and was with Houston from 1965 until 1971, when the Phillies brought him into their broadcasting fold. Eventually paired up with Hall of Fame player Richie Ashburn, the duo became sports icons in Philadelphia, and their calls on significant Phillies events became an indelible part of the city's sports lore and memory. When the Phillies advanced to the World Series in 1980, Major League baseball rules did not permit local broadcasters to do the games, a situation that caused massive fan disappointment that they could not hear Kalas and Ashburn. After the Phillies won the series, the public outcry and criticism prompted Major League Baseball to change the rules, which now allow local sportscasters to do the games on local radio. 28 years later this allowed Harry Kalas to broadcast all the games of the 2008 World Series involving the eventual champion Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays to local fans. From 1975 he was the voice of NFL Films, and he was involved in numerous sports and local charities during his tenure. His standard call for a home run - "That ball is outta here", has become one of the legendary baseball calls. He was preparing to broadcast a game between the Phillies and the Washington Nationals when he collapsed in the broadcasting booth and died shortly later at the age of 73.
Bio by: RPD2
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