Kalas to be inducted into Wall of Fame
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Kalas to be inducted into Wall of Fame
Daily News staff
The Phillies announced that Harry Kalas will be inducted posthumously into the team’s Wall of Fame on Aug. 7, at Citizens Bank Park before a game against the Florida Marlins.
“When we started the Wall of Fame in 1978, the intent was to honor the great players in our history,” team president David Montgomery said in a statement. “We believe it is fitting to make an exception because Harry deserves to be remembered along with some of the greatest names in our history. He is indeed a Phillies icon.
“Being a Wall of Famer is our organization’s highest honor. There’s no doubt Harry should receive such recognition,” said Montgomery.
During his Phillies career, Kalas broadcast 6,037 games. Kalas was inducted into the broadcasters’ wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 when he received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award, given to a broadcaster who has made “major contributions to baseball.”
The Wall of Fame display is part of the Memory Lane section of Ashburn Alley.
Wall of Famers who are expected to participate in the ceremonies include Robin Roberts (first inductee, 1978), Jim Bunning (1984), Steve Carlton (1989), Mike Schmidt (1990), Dick Allen (1994), Greg Luzinski (1998), Garry Maddox (2001), Tony Taylor (2002), Bob Boone (2005) and Dallas Green (2006). Kalas broadcast games involving all of these players.
*
To read our earlier post about the Phillies' potential for a trade, click here
a fitting gesture. Harry will always hold a special place in my heart. He was the voice of my childhood.— Ryan
Comment removed.- Very classy and very appropriate.— KarenA
- Still can't believe he's gone :(— america
- There should be a statue . Just like the one of Ernie Harnwell (?) at Detroit's new ballpark . Harry deserves one .— Joe R.
- Harry was great. But I think this is going a little too far.He has a restaurant named after him and the TV broadcast booth is named after him. I think the Wall of Fame should be kept for players and coaches. The Phillies want to honor Harry further perhaps they should start a Harry Kalas scholarship for a student majoring in Communications. Once a year at a home game the Phillies present the schollarship to the winner. Have them throw out the first pitch .— jmagee1202
- cool. i'll be there.— mcsideburns
- The phillies always do a great job of handling ceremonies and their own. im sure a statue or another honor will probably be in place by next season, if not sooner. another aspect of CBP we'll love— wearethechampions
- A fitting tribute to a great man. However, not to be picky, but being put on the wall of fame is not the organizations highest honor, having a number retired is..... I know Harry didn't have a number, but they should slap a big old "K" up next to 1, 14, 20, 32, and 36.— vetlincbank
- Class act.— JerseyCommonSense
- Legend.— MTbelly
- Comment removed.
- Kalas broadcast games involving Robin Roberts & Jim Bunning? Where, in Houston?— billinseattle
- Every time I hear the guys doing the broadcasts now, I miss Harry even more. Hope he and Whitey are tearing up the Heavenly Links Golf Course.— TBear
- Very cool.— whiplash240
The thing about the Wall of Fame is that the people on it will be remembered after Citizens Bank Park is gone, and Harry deserves that. We can't guarantee that in whatever the next park is there will be a restaurant or a broadcast booth named after him. They may even put the Phanatic on the wall if they ever decide to retire it, and I'd be ok with it, because it was a big part of the Phillies and bigger than most of the players and coaches to come through, just like Harry was bigger than most.- The thing about the Wall of Fame is that the people on it will be remembered after Citizens Bank Park is gone, and Harry deserves that. We can't guarantee that in whatever the next park is there will be a restaurant or a broadcast booth named after him. They may even put the Phanatic on the wall if they ever decide to retire it, and I'd be ok with it, because it was a big part of the Phillies and bigger than most of the players and coaches to come through, just like Harry was bigger than most.
- Harry, we love and miss you sooooooo much. This is a fitting honor for you as you truly were 'The Voice of the Phillies'. Rest in peace.— Stanley Levin
- I agree with magee, jj, and vet linc. Will the HK sign stay up in left field next year? I do miss Harry and Whitey. Starting to warm up to McCarthy. I live in VA so I get MLB In Demand TV. Even with their faults, the TV team is as good as any. Try listening to the guys in DC. Course, they don't have much to work with.
- Comment removed.
- Chris Wheeler is horrible, but they should put a plasma on the WOF that shows the Wheeler dance on an endless loop.
- Murph, saw you on Daily News Live today and I was just wondering when you became Brett Myer's lap dog. You obviously haven't watched this guy pitch for the last six years.— bigtbone
- Bunning played in 71 for the Phillies his last season, Roberts when in Huston.— lcd24
- Robin Roberts was on the broadcast team in 1976. The same year Andy Musser replaced By Saam. By Saam should be given a place on the WOF. I believe both he and Harry did 38 years in the booth.— bristowvw
- The thing about sports is the intensity it provides in the moment, and the memories it provides for a life time. Harry was just as much a part of that as any Philly ever was or ever will be...Post is a bit late, but I am just reading the article now...— MFPhils
