philliesfiend55
05-29-2009, 10:38 AM
Harry Kalas will be honored with a Phillies Wall Of Fame induction on August 7 it was announced yesterday. Kalas will be the first non-uniformed member of the Wall. He is a 2002 inductee into the Baseball Hall Of Fame broadcasters wing in Cooperstown, NY. 31 individuals have been elected to the Phillies Wall Of Fame in the past 32 seasons since Roin Roberts became the first inductee in 1978. John Vukovich (coach & organization man),Dallas Green (manager) and Paul Owens (manager, General Manager) are the only others not chosen for their roles as a Phillies player, although Green and Vukovich had short careers as Phillies players also. Kalas is the first person elected in a purely non-uniformed role to be so elected.
He died suddenly at 73 in the second week of the 2009 season. He was a major league broadcaster for 45 years, six seasons with the Houston Astros from 1965 to 1970 and the last 39 with the Phillies.
Kalas is the only selection for 2009. Beginning next year the Phillies may begin electing 2 candidates to the wall some years. The second candidate would be in the "Historical" category to honor some players who played for the team a minimum of 50 years ago, who those far have not been granted Wall Of Fame honors. (I'm guessing that the National League 1950 National League MVP, pitcher, Jim Konstanty could finally be elected to the Wall Of Fame next year, the first electee in the new "Historical Player" Category, 60 years after his MVP season.
-philliesfiend55
He died suddenly at 73 in the second week of the 2009 season. He was a major league broadcaster for 45 years, six seasons with the Houston Astros from 1965 to 1970 and the last 39 with the Phillies.
Kalas is the only selection for 2009. Beginning next year the Phillies may begin electing 2 candidates to the wall some years. The second candidate would be in the "Historical" category to honor some players who played for the team a minimum of 50 years ago, who those far have not been granted Wall Of Fame honors. (I'm guessing that the National League 1950 National League MVP, pitcher, Jim Konstanty could finally be elected to the Wall Of Fame next year, the first electee in the new "Historical Player" Category, 60 years after his MVP season.
-philliesfiend55