Harrah's Broadcast Award

Harry Kalas, Voice of NFL Films

Most Philadelphians associate the mellow baritone of Harry Kalas with baseball. He has been calling Phillies games on radio and television since 1971 and his familiar cry of “That ball is outta here” is as much a part of the team’s identity as the red pinstripes.

Tonight the Maxwell Club honors Kalas with the 5th annual Harrah’s Broadcast Award for his work on football. He regularly calls NFL games on the Westwood One radio network and since 1975 he has provided the narration for the NFL Films highlights on the award-winning HBO series “Inside the NFL.”

“Everyone is familiar with the voice, Harry has a great voice,” said NFL Films President Steve Sabol, “but more than that, Harry is a great storyteller. We give him the script and with his inflection and timing, he brings the words to life.”

Kalas was born in Naperville, Ill., and attended the University of Iowa, but he is now a Philadelphia treasure. He has been honored 17 times as Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the Year. He was the master of ceremonies at the closing of Veterans Stadium in 2003 and he helped raise the curtain on Citizens Bank Park the following spring. He also provided the narration for tours at the United States Mint in Philadelphia.

In 2002, Kalas was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting. “It’s the ultimate honor in this game I love so much,” he said. “It’s mind-boggling, it’s very special.”

Kalas began his broadcasting career in 1961 calling minor league games for the Hawaii Islanders. In 1965, he joined the broadcast team of the Houston Astros and six years later, he was hired by the Phillies. The pairing of Kalas and Richie Ashburn behind the microphone kept Philadelphia audiences entertained for generations.

“Kalas is well-liked by players, admired by his peers and loved by fans,” wrote Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press. “No matter where he goes, someone always stops him, shakes his hand and tells him of a favorite call. Kalas reacts the same way every time, always making the person feel important.”

Kalas is best known for his “Outta Here” home run call for which he credits former Phillies shortstop Larry Bowa. Kalas was on the field watching batting practice one day when Greg Luzinski drove a ball into the upper deck. Bowa was standing behind the cage and said: “Wow, that ball is way outta here.”

“I thought, ‘That has a nice ring to it,’” Kalas said, “so I started using it.”

Soon, it became his trademark. He does not have any similar signature calls for football, but he delivers the NFL action on Westwood One with the same crisp air of authority. Over the years, his broadcast partners have included Jack Ham, the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame linebacker, and Jim Fassel, the former head coach of the New York Giants.

In addition to his work on “Inside the NFL,” Kalas co-hosted “This Week in the NFL” with Steve Sabol and he has narrated dozens of team highlight films. Many clubs insist on having Kalas voice their highlights. “We just feel Harry is the best,” said Frank Ramos, former public relations director of the New York Jets. “You watch the film and hear that voice and you think, ‘Yeah, that’s how it’s supposed to be.’”

“The great thing about our business, players come and go, but the voices never change,” said Chip Caray, who broadcasts Chicago Cubs games on TV and radio. “Harry is that voice in Philadelphia, just like my grandfather (Hall of Famer Harry Caray) was in Chicago.”