Editorial: The voice of summer

For generations of Phillies fans, Harry Kalas narrated the soundtrack of summer.

The legendary broadcaster died yesterday after collapsing in the booth in Washington, hours before a Phillies-Nationals game. He was 73, and had called Phillies games since 1971.

"We lost our voice," said team President David Montgomery.

On the radio and on TV, Kalas' soothing baritone was a familiar friend to fans from Allentown to Vineland. Whether the Phillies were in last place or driving toward a world championship, the audience could always feel Kalas' love for the game.

His rich, distinctive voice had a way of conveying reassurance in your living room and in your town, no matter what the score on the diamond that day.

For years, Kalas and his beloved partner Rich "Whitey" Ashburn were the ideal broadcast team for Phillies fans. They also became the genial hosts of everyday life in the Philadelphia region, sending out birthday wishes and greeting folks on the air whom they'd met. Ashburn died in 1997.

So enjoyable were Kalas' voice and demeanor that purist fans were known to shun games on TV in favor of listening to his play-by-play on radio. A warm night, a cold beer on the porch, and Harry Kalas describing succinctly all you needed to know, and not one word more. Summertime didn't get any better than that.

Kids (and adults) mimicked his signature calls of dramatic plays. A home run? "Long drive! Watch this baby! Outta here!"

A World Series victory? "Brad Lidge stretches. The 0-2 pitch - swing and a miss, struck him out! The Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 world champions of baseball!"

Players came and went, and Kalas delivered his vocal blessings on each one. Michael Jack Schmidt. Steve "Lefty" Carlton. Chase Utley, you are the man! Their names and exploits became something more under Kalas' broadcast artistry.

Kalas so excelled at broadcasting that he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences also honored him that year with its lifetime achievement award.

To the team and to fans, however, Kalas was even more than the consummate professional broadcaster. He was a gentlemanly goodwill ambassador in white shoes for the team and for the city. Just hearing him talk about baseball made people want to come out to the ballpark.

When the Phillies won their first World Series in 1980, a network TV contract barred Kalas from calling the final out. Last October, when the Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 in South Philly, Kalas finally got that chance.

It was the way it should be. Baseball didn't sound right unless Harry Kalas was making the call.