A Final Farewell

Phillies fans said goodbye to broadcasting legend, the voice of Philadelphia, Harry Kalas Saturday.

Citizens Bank Park opened its gates to fans at 8a.m. for a public viewing.  Kalas' casket was placed in a position of honor, right behind home plate.

Around 1p.m., current and former players, broadcasters, team employees, friends and family paid their final respects. An on-field tribute began at 1:30 p.m.

Politicians, players and friends including Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, current Phillie Jamie Moyer, Kalas' son Kane and NFL Film's Steve Sabol all spoke to the crowd.

The ceremony ended with a joyous rendition of Kalas' favorite song -- "High Hopes." Singer Eddie Bruce led the first verse and Kalas led the second verse from Phanavision.

It is very rare for such a memorial service to be held, which only proves Kalas' importance to the game. Babe Ruth and Jack Buck, announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals, were the only other two baseball greats to have their caskets placed at a stadium, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ruth was laid in state at Yankee Stadium in 1948.  In 2002, thousands of fans paid their respect to Buck at Busch Stadium, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Fans and colleagues of Kalas have expressed their fondness for the legend.

"Harry Kalas. He's household," said Schmidt Friday at Citizens Bank Park. "He's a household name. He's a guy they depended on for 40 years. I'm just a guy that played for 17 of them, just like all the other Phillies. We come and go. The guys there are here now, they're going to be gone. We're all going to move on. Harry was just always here. He was always here for you."

One Kalas fan and NBCPhiladelphia.com reader, Mark, sent in this original poem:

You've thrilled us all so many years
Such passion in your voice
In the world of Radio
There isn't any choice

Every home run ball that's hit
Lifting our spirits high
Sadness fills our air waves
Since You've said Good-bye

You were such a class act
We really loved you so
Harry, You may be outta here
But, We'll never let you go!
 

Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas was honored by the Philadelphia Phillies in a moving ceremony before the game against San Diego Friday. It was the first home game since Kalas' death.

Kalas died of a heart attack Monday in Washington after collapsing in the broadcast booth before a Phillies-Nationals game. He was 73.

After a video tribute, Kalas' three sons, Todd, Brad and Kane, threw ceremonial pitches to Schmidt, John Kruk and Jimmy Rollins.

Kane Kalas then sang the national anthem while Rollins held a pair of Kalas' customary white loafers and Chase Utley held Kalas' blue sportcoat.

"Harry Kalas, if you can look past Ben Franklin and William Penn, may have been the greatest person to grace Philadelphia in the history of the city," Schmidt said.

Citizens Bank Park was transformed into a shrine for Kalas, who joined the Phillies in 1971. A billboard with Kalas' initials around a microphone was placed on the wall in left-center field. Kalas' signature was displayed on the field behind first base and third base.
The television booth was named the Harry Kalas Broadcast Booth. A plaque with Kalas' picture was hung on the wall and it read, "That ball's outta here!"

A black drape hung in front of the Phillies radio and TV booths and the Phillies flag in Ashburn Alley was at half-mast. There was no announcer commentary during the first half-inning of the game televised by Comcast Network Philadelphia.

The 7th inning stretch turned into a standing ovation when the team played a video on the jumbotron of Kalas singing Frank Sinatra's "High Hopes."

Outside, fans continued to place flowers, pictures and other memorials honoring Kalas at Schmidt's statue.

"I'm honored that fans would think of my statue as a place to honor Harry's life," Schmidt said.

Son Todd Kalas, said the support by fans was overwhelming. "They had an incredible realtionship, my dad and Phillies fans," he said.

"He was not gonna be a good retirement candidate," Todd laughed. "He didn't really have any hobbies, his life was here.”

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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