Phils broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away

[JimGinPA]

I'm a Cardinal fan,but Harry Kalas has been my favorite baseball announcer for years (since Jack Buck passed anyway).

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090413&content_id=4249036&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

WASHINGTON -- Longtime Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas died at 1:20 p.m. ET on Monday, shortly after collapsing in the team's broadcast booth before the series opener against the Nationals.
"We lost Harry. I've been 39 years with the Phillies and 39 years with Harry and, as I said in this clubhouse, we lost our voice today," said team president and CEO David Montgomery at about 1:50 p.m. outside the team's clubhouse. "He has loved our game and made just a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization."

The 73-year old Kalas was found in the team's broadcast booth around 12:30 p.m. and was taken to George Washington University Medical Center. Team officials quickly cleared the locker room and talked with the Phillies.

Montgomery said he didn't know the exact cause of death.

"I know that when they took him away that they were very concerned," he said.

Kalas had been the team's broadcaster for the past 38 years. Prior to that, he was a member of the Houston Astros' broadcast team from 1965-70. He received the 2002 Ford C. Frick Award, bestowed annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball."

Montgomery said Monday's game would be played, but that the Phillies were going to reach out to the White House and pass up Tuesday's scheduled trip there.

[theboss]

1. Wow

He is such an icon in Philly. This is going to be a sad week there. It will be like when Myron died in Pittsburgh.

[JimGinPA]

2. I Met Him Years Ago When I Lived In Clearwater...

And I ran into him several times over the years (during the spring). He was really a nice person with a great sense of humor.