Kalas still going strong as he turns 70
03/26/2006
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It was still early Sunday morning and Harry Kalas appeared to be muttering to himself in a nearly empty press box.
Wearing his trademark white shoes, a white windbreaker covering a blue shirt and slacks -- and puffing his first cigarette of the morning -- the Hall of Fame broadcaster worked through pronunciations for that afternoon's broadcast.
"This small town in Pennsylvania, New Tripoli?" he said, his baritone voice resonating despite the hour. "It is New TRI-poli, New Tri-POLI?"
Getting it right, Kalas mentioned New Tri-POLI during the game against Boston. For him, it was another Sunday game, just like the many he's done during his 45 years in broadcasting.
The legendary Kalas turned 70 on Sunday.
"I'm really enjoying it," he said with a smile. "There are a lot of people surprised I've lasted this long, most of all, me. I really didn't expect to still be going."
Kalas has always been and still is the voice for generations of fans, much like Vin Scully in Los Angeles or Bob Murphy and Ernie Harwell were in New York and Detroit, respectively. There's no escaping the memories stirred thinking of an afternoon in the backyard listening to a Phillies game.
"There are certain voices that you just associate with a big game, Super Bowl, or whatever it is," said Phillies broadcaster Scott Graham. "These voices are the ones I grew up listening to. The best I can say to them is, 'Thank you.' They set a standard of quality so high that the rest of us are way behind."
Fans have been wild about Kalas for more than three decades, though things weren't so smooth when Kalas was hired in 1971 -- the same year Veterans Stadium opened -- to replace a legend in Bill Campbell. He often tells the story of how he was sure he wouldn't have lasted if it weren't for Richie Ashburn.
As a kid, the young Kalas became a fan of Washington when Mickey Vernon once took him into the dugout during a rain delay at a Senators game. He grew up playing "All-Star Baseball," making up teams and serving as play-by-play announcer. Washington always won those games, though his allegiance ended when the Senators moved to Minneapolis. At the University of Iowa, Kalas called every sport he could.
His professional highlights include calling the 500th home runs of Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Eddie Mathews, and announcing the Phillies victory over Houston in the 1980 National League Championship Series.
Graham describes Kalas' lighter side as a needling incessant personality who rarely lets things go. Graham shared an anecdote from Game 1 of the 1993 World Series, when he interviewed players for the pregame show. Joe Garagiola was one of the guests, but Graham couldn't see that from his vantage point, and he relied on a note passed by the producer.
A technician misheard the name said by Graham's producer and handed him a slip of paper that read "Duke Riggiola." Obviously not recognizing the name, Graham forged ahead and welcomed the fictional Mr. Riggiola.
"Every day for probably a good portion of the next 10 years, Harry would find a way to weave the name in," Graham said. "If [Garagiola] should actually be in the ballpark, he'd say, 'Scott, you're friend Duke is here.'
"It's part of the reason it's so much fun," Graham added. "The way to conduct yourself, the way to keep things fun on an everyday basis is exciting and fun, and the level of professionalism. You can't match that. He's a professional's professional. It's astounding to watch the way he does it."
Wearing his trademark white shoes, a white windbreaker covering a blue shirt and slacks -- and puffing his first cigarette of the morning -- the Hall of Fame broadcaster worked through pronunciations for that afternoon's broadcast.
"This small town in Pennsylvania, New Tripoli?" he said, his baritone voice resonating despite the hour. "It is New TRI-poli, New Tri-POLI?"
Getting it right, Kalas mentioned New Tri-POLI during the game against Boston. For him, it was another Sunday game, just like the many he's done during his 45 years in broadcasting.
The legendary Kalas turned 70 on Sunday.
"I'm really enjoying it," he said with a smile. "There are a lot of people surprised I've lasted this long, most of all, me. I really didn't expect to still be going."
Kalas has always been and still is the voice for generations of fans, much like Vin Scully in Los Angeles or Bob Murphy and Ernie Harwell were in New York and Detroit, respectively. There's no escaping the memories stirred thinking of an afternoon in the backyard listening to a Phillies game.
"There are certain voices that you just associate with a big game, Super Bowl, or whatever it is," said Phillies broadcaster Scott Graham. "These voices are the ones I grew up listening to. The best I can say to them is, 'Thank you.' They set a standard of quality so high that the rest of us are way behind."
Fans have been wild about Kalas for more than three decades, though things weren't so smooth when Kalas was hired in 1971 -- the same year Veterans Stadium opened -- to replace a legend in Bill Campbell. He often tells the story of how he was sure he wouldn't have lasted if it weren't for Richie Ashburn.
As a kid, the young Kalas became a fan of Washington when Mickey Vernon once took him into the dugout during a rain delay at a Senators game. He grew up playing "All-Star Baseball," making up teams and serving as play-by-play announcer. Washington always won those games, though his allegiance ended when the Senators moved to Minneapolis. At the University of Iowa, Kalas called every sport he could.
His professional highlights include calling the 500th home runs of Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Eddie Mathews, and announcing the Phillies victory over Houston in the 1980 National League Championship Series.
Graham describes Kalas' lighter side as a needling incessant personality who rarely lets things go. Graham shared an anecdote from Game 1 of the 1993 World Series, when he interviewed players for the pregame show. Joe Garagiola was one of the guests, but Graham couldn't see that from his vantage point, and he relied on a note passed by the producer.
A technician misheard the name said by Graham's producer and handed him a slip of paper that read "Duke Riggiola." Obviously not recognizing the name, Graham forged ahead and welcomed the fictional Mr. Riggiola.
"Every day for probably a good portion of the next 10 years, Harry would find a way to weave the name in," Graham said. "If [Garagiola] should actually be in the ballpark, he'd say, 'Scott, you're friend Duke is here.'
"It's part of the reason it's so much fun," Graham added. "The way to conduct yourself, the way to keep things fun on an everyday basis is exciting and fun, and the level of professionalism. You can't match that. He's a professional's professional. It's astounding to watch the way he does it."
And keeps doing it.
Kalas knows he's reaching the twilight of his career, but he sees no end in sight. His contract ends after this season, and his agent is working on an extension. Indications from the Phillies are that Kalas can stay as long as he wants.
Even Kalas knows that he may have lost a step from his early years. He gets tired easier than he did in the 1970s and '80s, and he occasionally calls a home run that nestles in an outfielder's glove, but it hasn't prevented him from enjoying the game.
"Broadcasters are a way of life for a lot of people," said Larry Shenk, the Phillies' vice president of public relations. "He's a Hall of Famer in so many ways."
It's rare to find someone who doesn't recognize the voice, which does much more than announce Phillies games. He's the voice of NFL Films and Chunky Soup, and for decades called Notre Dame football. He has narrated many highlight films for college and pro teams as well as the tour video at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. He also has provided answering machine messages, wedding party voiceovers and Bar Mitzvah announcements.
He's maintained his energy for nearly four decades. Though it's inevitable, no one can fathom the day when Kalas is "out of here."
"I want to keep going until I get to a point where I don't feel like I'm calling them the way they should be called," Kalas said. "I don't have that feeling. I look forward to going to the ballpark."
Kalas knows he's reaching the twilight of his career, but he sees no end in sight. His contract ends after this season, and his agent is working on an extension. Indications from the Phillies are that Kalas can stay as long as he wants.
Even Kalas knows that he may have lost a step from his early years. He gets tired easier than he did in the 1970s and '80s, and he occasionally calls a home run that nestles in an outfielder's glove, but it hasn't prevented him from enjoying the game.
"Broadcasters are a way of life for a lot of people," said Larry Shenk, the Phillies' vice president of public relations. "He's a Hall of Famer in so many ways."
It's rare to find someone who doesn't recognize the voice, which does much more than announce Phillies games. He's the voice of NFL Films and Chunky Soup, and for decades called Notre Dame football. He has narrated many highlight films for college and pro teams as well as the tour video at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. He also has provided answering machine messages, wedding party voiceovers and Bar Mitzvah announcements.
He's maintained his energy for nearly four decades. Though it's inevitable, no one can fathom the day when Kalas is "out of here."
"I want to keep going until I get to a point where I don't feel like I'm calling them the way they should be called," Kalas said. "I don't have that feeling. I look forward to going to the ballpark."
Source: http://mlb.mlb.com/
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