The Nationals pregame radio show featured an interview of the 40-years+ voice of the Phillies,
Harry Kalus today. I immediately recognized the voice as the longtime voice of
NFL Films, including HBO's long running
Inside the NFL show. Anyone who has seen
NFL Matchup on ESPN would know that former Eagle quarterback Ron Jaworski is a regular. The NFL has a facility in New Jersey, just outside Philadelphia, where Jaworski practically lives, viewing game tapes each week. So it makes sense that a local broadcaster like Kalus ended up becoming the new NFL voice in 1984. In confirming that Kalus was also the NFL voice, I came across a heartwarming article about how he became, not only a baseball fan, but a
Washington Senators fan.
"Kalas recalled his first baseball game and what it meant. "I was raised in Naperville, Illinois, which is 30 miles outside of Chicago," he said. 'The first game my dad took me to was the
White Sox and the Senators at Comiskey Park. It was a rainy day so he was able to get tickets right behind the Senators' dugout. I'm 10 years old, all wide-eyed at my first major league game. Since it rained there was no batting practice and
Mickey Vernon of the
Senators poked his head out of the dugout and sees this wide-eyed kid. He picks me up, takes me to the dugout, gives me a baseball and
that began my love of the Senators and baseball.'" http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/kalasprofile.htmlEvery time a MLB player takes a minute of their time, as pitcher Zach Day did with TomTerps' daughter, a lifelong fan can potentially be created. Even when the team is on the road.
