Harry Kalas

 

Harry Kalas

By Saul Rosa

Staff Writer

When baseball fans recall the names of legends, they usually say Babe Ruth or Jackie Robinson, but to a Phillies’ fan the name Harry Kalas is sure to pop up.

At the age of 73, with almost 40 years of experience as the Phillies’ play-by-play announcer, Harry Kalas died in a press box at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. before the Phillies’ game against the Nationals April 13.

Kalas began his career calling in the minor league games for Hawaii Islanders while stationed in Hawaii for the United States Army.

In 1963, Kalas first appeared in the Major Leagues replacing Al Helfer, for the Houston Astros, where he worked Gene Elston and Loel Passe.

He first made his appearance with the Phillies in 1971 when he succeeded Bill Campbell, and was the master of ceremonies for the opening of the Veterans Stadium.

Kalas began narrating for the NFL Films in 1975, and became the primary voice in 1984 with the death of John Facenda.

Kalas was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award, an award for broadcasters for major contributions to baseball, from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. 

Nicknamed “Harry the K” by Phillies fans, Kalas also announced the ceremonial closing of Veterans Stadium in 2003 and was the master of ceremonies at the ceremonial opening of Citizens Bank Park in 2004.

Five days before Kalas would be the victim of cardiovascular disease, the Phillies honored Kalas by having him throw the first pitch before the game against the Braves on April 9, 2009. 

Many fans and players would put Kalas amongst the greats of Philadelphia.

“Harry Kalas, if you can look past Ben Franklin and William Penn, may have been the greatest person to grace Philadelphia in the history of the city,” stated Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt to Rob Maaddi, AP Sports Writer.

Phillies: World champs or world chumps?

Phillies pitcher Brett Myers leads the team in strikeouts.

By ZAC HARRIS

Contibuting Writer

It might be early to be calling the world champions of 2008 a bust, but the first few games do not bear pleasant forebodings for the rest of the season. 

The Phillies 2009 season has  gotten off to a rocky start. The Phillies do not have one starting pitcher with an ERA under 5.00, and the lowest ERA belongs to two-faced pitcher Brett Myers, who was sent down to the minor leagues last season. Myers was a key catalyst to the Phillies making the playoffs. He boasted eight wins and an impressive recovery ERA in the second half of the season. Myers, who lost twenty pounds in the off-season, needs to be a catalyst once again for the Phillies. 

Pitchers Joe Blanton, who was a new addition to the Phils last season, and the 46-year-old Jamie Moyer haven’t had promising starts either. Similarly, last years MVP Cole Hamels has not been up to standard. Hamels has just two starts, no wins, one loss, and has given up 12 runs, leaving him with an ERA of 11.17. 

Altogether the bullpen has given up 74 runs. This is really disappointing, considering how strong their pitching was last year. 

The good news is that in the twenty-nine games played, the Phillies have not experienced problems scoring runs. The team currently has a combined 15 home runs as well as 59 additional runs batted in.

Newcomer Raul Ibanez has earned a warm welcome from teammates, leading the Phillies in hitting with five home runs, and a batting average of .400. Chase Utley’s hip surgery also has given him an advantage on the field. Chase Utley is currently hitting a .366 batting average with four home runs. 

The Phillies have been known for starting out the season poorly in April. However we are only twenty-nine games in, with 133 left. The Phillies pitching staff has plenty of time to get it together and make another run for the playoffs. The question is, will they?

Summer fun is closer than you think

 

The Boardwalk is one of Jersey’s famous attractions and is an incredible way to enjoy the summer with family and friends.

 

 

By KRISTEN TANTILLO
Staff Writer

 

Now that the sun is setting later and the weather is getting warmer, it is time to start having the summer fun we have all waited for.  There are many entertaining adventures to discover right here in South Jersey.

Take the Shore, for instance. Not only is catching up on that long anticipated tan an option, but parasailing and jet skiing is also something to look into. Those thrilling rides are reasonably priced. For family fun, there are water parks in Ocean City and Wildwood that are priced less than those at Six Flags or Dorney Park. The drive is a lot shorter too. They have rollercoasters and goofy little games that will light up anyone’s face. Prices vary according to the amount of tickets purchased. Go to www.wildwoodsnj.com for information. To make sure these memories last, there are picture booths along the boardwalk, so pile as many loved ones possible in for the snapshot.

If romance is what you are looking for, try walking shoeless along the water with only the lights from the old rollercoasters and the Ferris wheel guiding your steps. Taking a walk in a nearby park at sunset while feeding the ducks will always spark summer love. Barbequing is also a spicy option. Eating outside in the warm air will also be refreshing. Ice cream is the way to any person’s heart. A cheap dessert can turn into one of the most fun things to do this summer.

Town festivals are pretty prominent here. Vineland has many festivals throughout the summer where great food and amusing rides are found. Millville and Hammonton always have some gatherings to check out. This is a plus since there is a chance friends and maybe even family will show up. Signs will be posted around these towns, so keep an eye open.

Millville has recently opened up a Motor Sports Race Track where anyone is able to arrive and drive. A day or seasonal license is required

and the cost starts at $25.00. Celebrities are always arriving in Millville to race their cars when they have free time. The Motor Sports Park is close and not too costly. Go to www.NJMP.com for more information.

If all else fails and you find the urge to escape the confines of the state, baseball games are also exciting and enjoyable at any age. The Philadelphia Phillies have home games quite frequently and the drive is only a little less than an hour. Game tickets are also under $20.00 at www.stubhub.com.

Summer is the season where everything is possible. It is the time of year where memories are made and the days as well as nights will never be forgotten.