The voice of the Phillies has been silenced, but we will never forget the great Harry Kalas.

My earliest memory of Harry was riding my bike with my friend Bob Male in Willingboro, up to the 7-11 to get our Slurpees in our Baseball Trading Cups.  It was a long trek, so we'd sit on the curb at the 7-11 and slurp away, me with my favorite flavor, Cola. 

On my bike, I had a little AM radio with a bike horn that my Dad had given me, and while we devoured our Slurpees, we'd listen to Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn calling the Phillies game on a hot summer day in the summer of 1972.  It was the year of "Lefty" - Steve Carlton - and his memorable season on a team that, as a whole, didn't do so well that year.  We probably bought 2-3 Slurpees each, trying to get a Steve Carlton baseball trading cup, and I seem to remember Bob got one before I did.  I kept getting stuck with Sonny Siebert.

As we enjoyed our Slurpees, listening to the game, we'd keep trying to perfect our Harry Kalas imitations, though we definitely needed some work!

Some of The Phillies seasons were pretty awful, but, as a fan and a listener, you could always count on the great banter between Harry and Whitey.  They made a boring game entertaining.

Cheers, Harry.  Though we are sad at the news of your passing, you died doing what you loved, and what we loved hearing you do, and it's comforting to know that you and Whitey are back together again.