Whether that health problem was related to his passing was unknown as of last night. He arrived at spring training in mid-March and broadcast each of the Phillies' first six regular-season games. Last Wednesday, he participated in the World Series ring ceremony at Citizens Bank Park and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Kalas was on the team flight from Denver to Washington on Sunday night. But early yesterday afternoon, Phillies director of broadcasting Rob Brooks discovered him unconscious at Nationals Park, his glasses and stat book already set up in the broadcast booth.
At 1:20 p.m., he was pronounced dead.
"The Kalas family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and affection from all of Harry's fans and friends cross America," a family statement said. "Especially the Phillies fans whom he loved as much as the game of baseball itself."
By the time the Phillies took the field against the Nationals and broke .500 for the first time this season, news of his passing had spread throughout the stadium and the city of Philadelphia.
"I think if you could pick a way to die and a place to die and how you do it," Campbell said, "I think Harry would have picked this way."
After 73 years - 38 of them in the city of Philadelphia - the flame has died.
The Harry Kalas era is over. *
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting contributions be sent in Kalas' memory to Phillies Charities, Inc., Phillies, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA 19148. Contributions will be earmarked for different charities at a later date.
Daily News staff writers Ed Barkowitz, Les Bowen, Mark Kram, Paul Hagen and Catherine Lucey contributed to this report.
