Philly's Best Sport Commentator Unfortunately Is "Outta Here"

When Rory Brown sent out a request to talk about each media market's best sports media personalities, one longtime announcer came to mind: Harry Kalas.

Kalas, who was the Philadelphia Phillies MLB broadcaster since 1971, died April 13, 2009 while preparing to broadcast a game in Washington, D.C. Fittingly, he collapsed in the booth and was taken to a Washington area hospital, where he died.

Here, in the picture shown above, Phillies broadcaster Chris Wheeler looks at the plaque of the legendly Kalas in the Phillies office, probably shortly after Kalas died.

Kalas graced our homes, our cars, the buses and the Jersey shore beaches with style, grace, his trademark cigar, but more importantly, the sweetest sounding tones of any baseball announcer anywhere.

"Swing and a long drive, there it is, number 500!," Kalas said on April 18, 1987. "The career 500th home run for Michael Jack Schmidt!"

Kalas called all of Schmidt's 548 home runs, but more impressively, he had an impressive list of media outlets: he was the voice of the Phillies, NFL Films and Notre Dame football. He also did Chunky Soup commercials.

There are other great sports media people in Philadelphia. But the list begins and ends with Harry Kalas.

Other great media personalities in my mind, including Daily News writer Rich Hoffman and Bill Conlin. The Inquirer's Billy Lyons was one of the best sportswriters in the country, but retired in the past few years and writes only occasionally.

After Kalas, the best play-by-play man is the Philadelphia Eagles commentator Merrill Reese. Like many football announcers in any media market, he is somewhat of a homer. But just like the Philadelphia fan, he voices his displeasure when the Eagles are playing poorly.

You can listen to Merrill Reese on the radio and he can make the game come alive:

"The Eagles in their midnight green tops and white pants take the ball at the 20, moving left to right on your dial. McNabb, under center, takes the ball, he drops back ..."

Philadelphians love their sports teams and their announcers. Each major sport announcer brings the game to life: Scott Fransky for the Phillies, Reece and Mike Quick for the Eagles, Jim Jackson for the Flyers and Marc Zumoff for the Sixers.

The King of Philadelphia sports radio undoubtably is Howard Eskin, the afternoon personality at WIP radio. Eskin is knowledgeable about his sports, if not opinionated and just as likely to call you a fool or sarcastically, "genius."

Philly is passionate about their sports and the people who bring the game into their homes. It is OK if they are homers, just be willing to recognize good play and bad play, but most importantly, bring home the emotion that all of us feel when the team does well, hits a grand slam, scores a touchdown or scores the winning basket or goal.

Thank you, Philadelphia. Thank you, Harry Kalas.

Good night.