Harry Kalas’ Legacy Continues: Statue to Be Unveiled at Citizens Bank Park

Recently, after watching nearly an entire Phillies game with my television muted, I realized something: I simply don’t care what they’re saying anymore.

Tom McCarthy, Chris Wheeler and Gary Matthews are fine, I suppose. But how can any combination of announcers compete with the voice I grew up with? I’m talking about the the voice that I feel asleep to when I was little, and the voice that kept me up late—sometimes until the wee hours of the morning when I was a teenager. That voice, unfortunately, cannot be unmuted.

The deep-baritone voice that is permanently cemented in my memory is one that can never be replaced. It went beyond the voice. It was the man behind the microphone, pure and simple. It was his genuine nature, his kindness, his passion, his enthusiasm and his bona fide love of the fans. He really did feel our passion “through and through.”

I’m alluding, of course, to longtime Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas.

Although Kalas’ voice went silent in 2009, his legacy will never be “outta here.” And this weekend, the Phillies will take another step to commemorate their Hall of Fame announcer.     

The much anticipated statue of Harry Kalas will be unveiled this Sunday during a special ceremony at Citizens Bank Park.

The event will be part of the Phillies Alumni Weekend and will feature some special guests in attendance including members of the Kalas family and former Phillies.

The statue, which has been in the works since shortly after Kalas’ passing, was sculpted by Lawrence Nowlan, who leads Dear Harry, Inc., a fan-based group created to help fund the 7.5-foot bronze figure. Nowlan takes tremendous pride in being a part of the group’s efforts.

“Harry gave all he had to the fans here in Philadelphia,” said Nowlan. “For 38 years he treated us with nothing but love and respect. Being able to play a small part in cementing his legacy in our city and beyond has been a dream come true.”

The ceremony will begin at 1:10 p.m., just before the Phillies wrap up a three-game set with the Washington Nationals. Team president David Montgomery will accept the statue on behalf of the organization. It will, fittingly, be located near Harry the K’s restaurant in left field.

The statue will serve as a constant reminder of the man who got Phillies fans through both the good times, the bad times and everything in between. It will remind future generations who walk through the gates of the Bank how extraordinarily lucky we were to have such an amazing person in our lives.

And even though we no longer have Harry himself with us anymore, his memory will forever help us maintain the one thing he constantly reminded us to have: high hopes.  

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com