Written By Jay Arnold Take the thing you love, and make it your life. For the City of Philadelphia, Harry Kalas was so much more than an announcer. Harry Kalas was home.
No matter how far away we traveled or how long we stayed, Harry's deep honey-dripped baritone voice could cross oceans and generations to stir vibrant memories of countless springs and lazy hot-dog summers.
And underneath the voice… behind the wry smile and deep sentiment for a simple game with simple rules, stirred an even deeper love. He loved the game and helped to make it greater than the sum of its parts. Not many can say that. And no one could say it like Harry could.
While countless outsiders pontificate what it is to be a Philadelphia sports fan, they need only look to Harry to understand. Two parts passion and one part blue-collar Grit. He was this town. He was everything good about Philadelphia.
Harry had his own final out in the booth yesterday, only adding to how he captured the game, only punctuating a last poignant call to a life of moments and memories that literally touched millions. We love our Villians in Philly. But we love our Heroes even more, and Harry certainly was one of them… if not the best of the lot.
He will be more than missed. His voice will echo off the outfield walls through generations and his memory will be as hallowed as any championship our teams will ever win. So…for all the "Outa's Here's" and all the shared days at the park, and for a life lived to its fullest, we thank you Harry, as an inspiration, a joy, an example and a gentleman of the game.
Harry was magic. Harry was home. Harry was Philly.
