Philadelphia Phillies Legendary Broadcaster Harry Kalas Has Died

Legendary Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas has died at age 73.

"We lost our voice today," team president David Montgomery said. "He knows the game and made a tremendous contribution to the sport and to our organization . . .
"Anybody who has played for us, it's an immediate point of connection with the club. He is the Phillies."

Kalas collapsed in the press box before the Phillies were to play the Washington Nationals in D.C. He was found by Rob Brooks, the Phillies' director of broadcasting. Emergency medical personnel were called and took Kalas to George Washington Medical Center.

The team is described as "stunned"

Harry Kalas had one of the best voices in broadcasting. Kalas was a legend in Philadelphia calling Phillies games since 1971.

Here's a statement from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig:

"Major League Baseball has lost one of the great voices of our generation. Harry Kalas was an outstanding ambassador for the game, first as an original member of the Houston Astros’ broadcast team in 1965 and, beginning in 1971, as the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies."

"Baseball announcers have a special bond with their audience, and Harry represented the best of baseball not only to the fans of the Phillies, but to fans everywhere."

Sports fans outside of Philly heard Kalas' distinctive voice on many NFL Films programs and on national NFL radio broadcasts.

Here's Kalas calling the final out of the 2008 World Series. [HT: Comcast/Youtube]

Photo Courtesy: MLB/Philadelphia Phillies