IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 350 

Honoring the life and accomplishments of Harry Kalas for his invaluable 

contributions to the national past-time of baseball, the community, and 

the Nation. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 21, 2009 

Mr. SESTAK submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life and accomplishments of Harry Kalas for 

his invaluable contributions to the national past-time of 

baseball, the community, and the Nation. 

Whereas Harry Kalas, an iconic and beloved sports broadcaster passed away on April 13, 2009; 

Whereas Harry Kalas was born on March 26, 1936, in 

Naperville, Illinois; 

Whereas Harry Kalas is a 1959 graduate of the University 

of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech, Radio, 

and Television; 

Whereas immediately following graduation, Harry Kalas 

served in the United States Army for two years in Hawaii; 


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•HRES 350 IH 

Whereas following his service, Harry Kalas began his broadcasting career with KGU Radio broadcasting games for 

the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii Islanders of the 

AAA Pacific Coast League; 

Whereas Harry Kalas was a member of the original Houston 

Astros broadcast team in 1965; 

Whereas Harry Kalas joined the Philadelphia Phillies broadcast team in 1971, calling their games for the past 38 

years, including 26 years with his great friend and Hall 

of Famer Richie Ashburn; 

Whereas Harry Kalas had diverse talents, calling University 

of Houston football, Southwest Conference basketball, 

Big Five basketball, University of Notre Dame football, 

and NFL games, throughout his illustrious career as well 

as providing voice-overs for NFL films and numerous 

commercials; 

Whereas Harry Kalas broadcast the opening of the Astrodome, Veterans Stadium, and Citizen Bank Ballpark; 

Whereas in 2002, Harry Kalas was the Ford C. Frick Award 

Winner, named after the former National League President and Major League Baseball Commissioner, which is 

annually bestowed by the National Baseball Hall of Fame 

to a broadcaster for ‘‘major contributions to baseball’’; 

Whereas Harry Kalas called 7 National League Championship Series and 3 World Series, being the voice of the 

2008 World Champions; 

Whereas 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 homeruns, making the 

phrase, ‘‘outta here’’, an often imitated but never dupliVerDate Nov 24 2008 05:47 Apr 22, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR350.IH HR350

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•HRES 350 IH 

cated signature home run call well known in Philadelphia 

and the rest of the baseball world; 

Whereas 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; 

Whereas Harry Kalas was a remarkable husband to his wife, 

Eileen, and father to his three sons, Todd, Brad, and 

Kane; 

Whereas his son Todd followed him into the field of sports 

broadcasting; and 

Whereas Harry Kalas, not just as a voice, but also as a husband, father, friend, and veteran, will be sorely missed in 

both the Philadelphia region and the United States: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 

2 the life and accomplishments of Harry Kalas for his in3 valuable contributions to the national past-time of base4 ball, the community, and the Nation. 

Æ 


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