Sad, sad news to report from the original Mudcat Central area (greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania): The Voice of the Phillies has gone off the air forever. Harry Kalas, announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, passed on today at the age of 73.

He had gone to work as usual today, preparing to call the 3:00 pm game against the Washington Nationals at their stadium, and collapsed in the broadcast booth. He was found on the floor at 12:20 pm. Paramedics treated him at the scene and he was then rushed to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:20 pm.

The Philles team decided to go ahead with the game, noting that Harry would have wanted it that way, but it was very hard on the broadcasting team. I listened to portions of the game on the radio, and the grief in the voices of the announcers was painfully evident. Most of the "color" announcing was replaced by readings of statements of condolence and by reminiscences about Harry. The Phillies won the game 9-8 and then, while signing off the radio broadcast, announcer Larry Andersen could no longer hold it together; he broke down and could be heard weeping openly as fellow announcer Scott Franzke stepped in and said, "For Larry Anderson... and Harry Kalas... this is Scott Franzke for the Phillies radio network."

Here is the Philadelphia Inquirer article announcing the passing of Harry Kalas

Harry's most famous phrase: "This ball is outta heeeeere!"
Harry's favorite song: "High Hopes", which he sang occasionally (not well, of course -- the one thing that tremendous voice could not do was to carry a tune)
Kalas also broadcast for the NFL and recorded many voice-overs for NFL films.

Harry worked for many years with fellow broadcaster and former Phillie Richie Ashburn, who, by a strange coincidence, also passed away suddenly before a Phillies away-game. In Ashburn's case, it was September 9, 1997 and he had collapsed in his hotel room in New York City at age 70 due to a heart attack. Kalas had undergone heart surgery in February but his cause of death has not yet been announced.

Harry was by all accounts the nicest guy one would ever want to meet, a genuine person and a friend to all. RIP, Harry -- you may be outta here, but those of us who were blessed to hear your rich voice will keep on hearing it in our memories whenever we watch a Phillies game.