Aside from the Byko Birthday Book, Harry's mentions were almost always "celeb spottings" when he was having a meal, or a drink, with one of his many friends.
There were two big exceptions.
In 2002, during an otherwise dismal Phillies season, a bright spot was Harry's induction into baseball's Hall of Fame, an honor accorded to few - and challenged by none in Harry's case.
We could fill today's paper with examples of Harry's affection for the fans and their connection with them. It was a two-way street.
I ran a "Why I'm Wild About Harry" contest to select a fan to spend the third inning in the booth with him. (The Phillies selected Big Shots to join Harry in the booth to honor him during the third inning of Sunday home games and extended the privilege to a reader to be selected by me.)
There were a lot of entries. Some of them were funny, some were poetic, some were delirious at the prospect of breathing the same air as their hero.
I'll let one speak for many:
In 1999, after his grandfather died, Dan Urda said his family sent Kalas a letter "telling him how much my grandfather loved him. Harry responded by coming to my bar mitzvah weeks later, just to make me feel better."
Not an autographed picture, not a note. Harry, himself, showed up at the bar mitzvah.
A less happy incident came in August 1996 when I learned Harry had been arrested on a charge of drunken driving in Media. For some years, Harry drank more than was good for him; he quit the bottle a few years back.
I was surprised he took my call, more surprised when he admitted his guilt. Most "celebrities" would have ducked my call.
When it came to accepting responsibility, Harry metaphorically stepped up to the plate.
That says as much about him as the Hall of Fame. *
E-mail stubyko@phillynews.com or call 215-854-5977. For recent columns: http://go.philly.com/byko.
