[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10186]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING HARRY KALAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sestak) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and accomplishments 
of one of the most distinctive voices in all of sports, a true baseball 
legend, and someone who called the Seventh Congressional District of 
Pennsylvania home. Harold Norbert ``Harry'' Kalas, born in Naperville, 
Illinois, graduate of the University of Iowa and Hall of Fame 
broadcaster for over 44 years, passed away on April 13, 2009, having 
lived a life of great distinction.
  After graduation, Harry Kalas served in the 25th Infantry Division of 
our United States Army in Hawaii. After his service, he began his long 
and honored announcing career broadcasting University of Hawaii and 
Hawaii Islanders games for KGU radio.
  Harry Kalas was a member of the original Houston Astros broadcast 
team in 1965 and joined the Philadelphia Phillies broadcast team in 
1971, sharing the booth for 26 years with his great friend and fellow 
Hall of Famer, Richie Ashburn. Harry broadcast the opening of the 
Astrodome in Houston and both Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank 
Ballpark in Philadelphia. Harry Kalas' talents and voice were in great 
demand throughout his illustrious career.
  His many accomplishments included calling University of Houston 
football, Southwest Conference basketball, Big Five basketball, 
University of Notre Dame football and NFL games, as well as providing 
voiceovers for NFL films and numerous commercials.
  In 2002, Harry Kalas was the Ford C. Frick Award winner, named after 
the former National League president and Major League Baseball 
commissioner and annually bestowed by the National Baseball Hall of 
Fame to a broadcaster for major contributions to baseball.
  Harry Kalas called seven National League Championship Series and 
three World Series, most recently as the voice of the 2008 World 
Champion Philadelphia Phillies.
  Harry Kalas called all of Hall of Famer Steve Carlton's starts as a 
Phillie, as well as all of Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt's 548 home runs, 
making the phrase ``that ball is outta here'' an often imitated but 
never duplicated signature home-run call known in Philadelphia and 
throughout the baseball world.
  Harry Kalas was named Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the year 18 times 
and was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters 
Association Hall of Fame in 2008.
  Harry Kalas was a remarkable husband to his wife, Eileen, and father 
to his three sons, Todd, Brad and Kane.
  Just this fall Harry Kalas had one of the greatest experiences a 
father could ask for when he shared broadcasting of the World Series 
with his son Todd. On that day, Harry was the voice of the Philadelphia 
Phillies, and Todd, who had followed his father's career path into 
broadcasting, was the voice of the Tampa Bay Rays.
  Harry Kalas was more than just a voice. He was also the finest 
possible husband, friend, father and veteran. In these challenging 
economic times, with a Nation at war, it is important that we take the 
time to recognize those who dedicate their lives to make such times 
bearable, in his case more than bearable.
  Harry Kalas was one of those individuals. He will be sorely missed by 
Americans in every corner of this great Nation. Thank you, Harry, for 
who you were, an inspiration to us all.

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