It's hard to find a Phillies fan who didn't love Harry Kalas. Randy Miller is no exception.
The Phillies beat writer for the Bucks County Courier Times and PhillyBurbs.com has authored a book, "Harry the K: The Remarkable Life of Harry Kalas," which will be published March 9 by Running Press.
Miller says that although he loved Harry, he didn't want to write a puff piece. Harry's widow, Eileen, didn't want him to write fluff, either, and talks in the book about Harry's infidelities, the couple's counseling for it, and how she made him quit drinking. "The toughest part was all the women," said Miller, who didn't want to hurt Harry's first wife, Jasmine, whom he left for Eileen.
Eileen encouraged Miller to speak with Jasmine and also gave the writer Harry's phone book, which enabled him to reach some of his oldest friends. Miller interviewed 170 people for the 335-page book. Mike Schmidt wrote the foreward and Ryan Howard the introduction.
The book also details the stormy relationship between Harry and longtime broadcast partner Chris Wheeler. You may recall Wheeler seemed to be the only member of the Phillies organization who wasn't quoted publicly about Harry's death last year. "I cared a great deal about Harry," Wheeler says in the book. "We shared a lot of fun times that I'll always remember, and those memories belong to me and nobody can take them away," he told Miller.
The hardcover, priced at $24.95, will be available in stores and from online retailers, but it's not a Phillies-authorized product so Miller doesn't expect the book to be sold at Citizens Bank Park or to do book-signings there.
Here's a link to the rest of our column in Wednesday's Daily News.
Chris, you keep enjoying those "memories".........— Earl J
All those "memories" with Harry consisted of Harry and Whitey making fun of Wheeler 'The Weasel' because of everything in the third paragraph.— Jack Daniels on the rocks
Comment removed.- Wheeler commenting on Harry Kalas is offensive. 1) he hated the man and 2) name 2 people that would care what he had to say. KING~out— IamtheKING
- everytime that elephant EXPLODES onto my screen I have flashbacks to Friday Night happy hour @ the River Deck Cafe! KING~out— IamtheKING
- Comment removed.
- Harry drank like a fish, smoked like a chimney, and screwed around like a rabbit. My man !! I'm envious !!— baabyrrej
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- i understand people want to know private things about public people .. but some things should be left alone .. the poor guy is dead & now they pull the secrets out.. not that it possibly could ...i just hope it doesnt put the mighty king in a bad light!— KINGJOEL
- I can't wait for the opportunity to read about our "Harry" faults and all!— DebbyMess
- Harry Kalas announced baseball games for a living. He was a lousy husband and father. A remarkable man? Give me a break.— tudorcity
- Comment removed.
- I've read Miller's book. It was a good read. I felt like a witness to Harry's life.— Phillies2008WSChamps
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