I don't know most of you beyond those introductory emails, but I think that its safe to assume that I'm the only Phillies fan here. That being said I'm only now truly coming to terms with the tremendous loss of Harry Kalas. I was travelling yesterday, so I wasn't in Philly to hear the news, but I DVR'd yesterday's game. I tried watching this morning, knowing that Harry the K was not going to be coming through speakers, but not knowing how I would react to it. I didn't make it out of the second inning. That was pretty much the official end of my childhood. His voice got me through long drives (the Phillies flagship station had one of the biggest coverage areas of any team's in the country), came out of the radio I tucked under my pillow at night, and always sounded the same, whether the Phillies were in first or last (which was most of my childhood).
I had the great pleasure of meeting him once, when I was in high school. When I introduced myself to him, he repeated my name back to me, "Ro-dol-fo Fer-nan-dez", knowing, without me saying another word, that was exactly what I wanted to hear. My name had never sounded so good and it was one of the great thrills of my life. I can say, with a pretty high degree of certainty, that I would not be the passionate baseball fan I am today without Harry K. and probably wouldn't be in this fantasy league, typing this post, or having the chance to share a memory or two with a group of complete strangers who I think might just 'get it'. Baseball is a beautiful game, made more so by artists like Allen, Scully, Harwell, Brennaman, Buck and Harry Kalas. He will be missed. I'm just glad I got to see this before he left us.
Thanks for posting this, Rudy. I'd never heard of Kalas, but I've read a fair bit about him today. I love your encounter with him.
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