Harry Kalas

As you know, I'm a huge Philadelphia Phillies fan.  I started playing softball in 1986 and that summer began watching the local team, the Phillies.  I grew up with a team that for the life of them couldn't win.  One bright and shining moment in 1993, until that Joe Carter home run that ended my dreams.  I am still a tad bit bitter about that Blue Jays.  In 2007, we attended the game that moved the Phillies into the play-offs and I think that may have been the absolute best game I've ever been to.  I was fortunate enough to attend the first game in the Brewers series, the first game of the Dodger's series (on my birthday!), and the first home game of the World Series in 2008.  These are my boys!  This is my team!  So much so that I wrote a MA thesis about them to earn a Master's in American Studies from Penn State.

On April 13, 2009, just before the Phillies were to play the Washington Nationals in D.C. the Phillies suffered a horrible loss.  The voice of the Phillies, Harry Kalas, passed away in the broadcast booth approximately 30 minutes before game time.  It was a severe blow to not only the team and the players, but to the fans.  Harry loved us.  He appreciated us when no one else did.  He was one of us.  He loved the team with the same fervor that the fans did.  He might even have been the Phillies biggest fan.  It was devastating.

The fans didn't want want Harry forgotten, so the day after he passed, a Facebook page was started, asking if people would be interested in contributing to a statue of Harry Kalas paid for by the fans and presented to the Phillies.  The response was overwhelming and Dear Harry, Inc was formed.  Lawrence Nowlan, sculpturist, signed the petition and became the designer and sculpture of the Harry Kalas statue.  A two-year campaign started with fans funding the entire project and this Spring the Phillies accepted the statue to be placed at Citizen's Bank Park. 

Today, the statue will be dedicated during Phillies alumni weekend just outside Harry the K's restaurant.  I am just so proud of the Phillies fans who contributed to this absolutely fantastic project.  To those who organized the project, to Lawrence Nowlan who sculpted the statue, to those who donated, those who did behind the scenes work, and to those who spread the word, THANK YOU!  As a fan tired of hearing how awful fans of Philadelphia are, this proves that we are a passionate and dedicated group who are loyal to our teams and those associated with them.

If you haven't done so yet, the Dear Harry, Inc. group is still in need of donations to meet their goal.  Click here to make a donation through Paypal.  Today is a proud day to be a Phillies fan.