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Harry the K: The Remarkable Life of Harry Kalas
To Philadelphia Phillies fans, he was the soundtrack of summer. To millions of football fans across America, he was the “Voice of the NFL.” And as open and giving as Harry Kalas was throughout his professional and personal life, there are countless layers of the man that have remained unknown . . . until now.
Author Randy Miller interviewed more than 160 people—including all of Harry’s surviving family, many of his close friends from childhood to present, numerous colleagues from baseball and the NFL, and even Harry’s longtime personal psychologist—to craft a loving and shockingly honest portrayal of one of the most celebrated broadcasters in the history of sports.
With incredible details from all phases of his life—from his upbringing in the Chicago suburbs, to his Hall of Fame broadcasting career in baseball, to his ubiquitous voiceover work with the NFL, to his personal vices for drinking and women, to his legendary friendship with Richie “Whitey” Ashburn, to his ongoing feud with on-air partner Chris Wheeler— Harry the The Remarkable Life of Harry Kalas will surprise, delight, and enlighten all fans of the man they called “ Harry the K .”
Author Randy Miller interviewed more than 160 people—including all of Harry’s surviving family, many of his close friends from childhood to present, numerous colleagues from baseball and the NFL, and even Harry’s longtime personal psychologist—to craft a loving and shockingly honest portrayal of one of the most celebrated broadcasters in the history of sports.
With incredible details from all phases of his life—from his upbringing in the Chicago suburbs, to his Hall of Fame broadcasting career in baseball, to his ubiquitous voiceover work with the NFL, to his personal vices for drinking and women, to his legendary friendship with Richie “Whitey” Ashburn, to his ongoing feud with on-air partner Chris Wheeler— Harry the The Remarkable Life of Harry Kalas will surprise, delight, and enlighten all fans of the man they called “ Harry the K .”
336 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2010
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62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 11, 2010
harry kalas had one of the most recognizable voices in the world, known and loved by millions. for nearly four decades, kalas served as the play-by-play announcer for the philadelphia phillies. in addition to his work with the phils, he also served as the legendary voice behind nfl films and did commercial work for campbell's chunky soup and coors light. in 2002 kalas was inducted into the broadcasters wing of the national baseball hall of fame. he passed away in april 2009, one day before he and the world champion phillies were to be greeted at the white house by president obama.
harry the k: the remarkable life of harry kalas, written by suburban philadelphia sportswriter randy miller, recounts the life story of this beloved and charitable man. kalas, blessed with a rich baritone voice, knew from a young age he wanted to be a sportscaster. not only did he actualize his dream, but he became the summer soundtrack for an entire region. generations of philadelphians fell in love with harry, and he soon became an icon for both the team and the city as a whole. phillies hall of famer mike schmidt (the greatest third baseman of all time) may have said it best, "if you can look past ben franklin and william penn, harry kalas might have been the greatest person to ever grace philadelphia. as many lives as he affected over the time that he lived in philadelphia and this area, who would have a bigger impact on this city? i can't think of anybody."
though known primarily for his work behind the microphone, kalas also did extensive charity work, raising untold amounts of money and brightening countless lives. admired by nearly everyone he ever met, kalas was both generous and patient. he'd stop to sign autographs for anyone, anytime and anywhere, even if he was out dining or late for an appointment.
while the book celebrates both his personal and professional lives, it does not canonize the late announcer. instead it portrays kalas as a real human being, replete with faults and struggles. much is made about his two marriages, as well as his lifelong affection for cigarettes and booze. the feud he had with longtime broadcast partner chris "wheels" wheeler is also given considerable attention.
though harry the k is the definitive kalas biography, it is an imperfect work. miller's prose is often repetitive, and anecdotes are retold many times throughout the book. despite its shortcomings, harry the k is a fitting memorial to a man cherished by millions. the book has its touching moments, however, and the final chapters are fittingly poignant. though now in baseball heaven (calling games with whitey ashburn once again), kalas will be remembered fondly by phillies fans forever.
his legendary calls will live on in infamy:
"swing and a long drive... watch that baby... outta here, home run!
"here's the stretch by robinson, the 3-0 pitch. swing and a long drive! there it is, number 500! the career 500th home run for michael jack schmidt, and the phillies have regained the lead in pittsburgh 8-6! and the phillies dugout comes pouring out to home plate!"
and perhaps the most famous of all:
"one strike away; nothing-and-two the count to hinske. fans on their feet, rally towels being waved. brad lidge stretches. the 0-2 pitch... swing and a miss, struck him out! THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES ARE 2008 WORLD CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL!!"
rip harry
but he had high hopes, he had high hopes,
he had high apple pie in the sky hopes...
harry the k: the remarkable life of harry kalas, written by suburban philadelphia sportswriter randy miller, recounts the life story of this beloved and charitable man. kalas, blessed with a rich baritone voice, knew from a young age he wanted to be a sportscaster. not only did he actualize his dream, but he became the summer soundtrack for an entire region. generations of philadelphians fell in love with harry, and he soon became an icon for both the team and the city as a whole. phillies hall of famer mike schmidt (the greatest third baseman of all time) may have said it best, "if you can look past ben franklin and william penn, harry kalas might have been the greatest person to ever grace philadelphia. as many lives as he affected over the time that he lived in philadelphia and this area, who would have a bigger impact on this city? i can't think of anybody."
though known primarily for his work behind the microphone, kalas also did extensive charity work, raising untold amounts of money and brightening countless lives. admired by nearly everyone he ever met, kalas was both generous and patient. he'd stop to sign autographs for anyone, anytime and anywhere, even if he was out dining or late for an appointment.
while the book celebrates both his personal and professional lives, it does not canonize the late announcer. instead it portrays kalas as a real human being, replete with faults and struggles. much is made about his two marriages, as well as his lifelong affection for cigarettes and booze. the feud he had with longtime broadcast partner chris "wheels" wheeler is also given considerable attention.
though harry the k is the definitive kalas biography, it is an imperfect work. miller's prose is often repetitive, and anecdotes are retold many times throughout the book. despite its shortcomings, harry the k is a fitting memorial to a man cherished by millions. the book has its touching moments, however, and the final chapters are fittingly poignant. though now in baseball heaven (calling games with whitey ashburn once again), kalas will be remembered fondly by phillies fans forever.
his legendary calls will live on in infamy:
"swing and a long drive... watch that baby... outta here, home run!
"here's the stretch by robinson, the 3-0 pitch. swing and a long drive! there it is, number 500! the career 500th home run for michael jack schmidt, and the phillies have regained the lead in pittsburgh 8-6! and the phillies dugout comes pouring out to home plate!"
and perhaps the most famous of all:
"one strike away; nothing-and-two the count to hinske. fans on their feet, rally towels being waved. brad lidge stretches. the 0-2 pitch... swing and a miss, struck him out! THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES ARE 2008 WORLD CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL!!"
rip harry
but he had high hopes, he had high hopes,
he had high apple pie in the sky hopes...
July 7, 2014
Any Phils fan would want to read this book because Harry was the soundtrack of their lives for so long. But as other reviewers have essentially noted, it's flawed. It's practically written in crayon -- the writing is that pedestrian, which is surprising in light of the author being a baseball beat writer for so long. It's an odd mashup of admiring portrait and smarmy stories of Harry's drinking and flings. There are some funny stories, especially in the Richie Ashburn chapter. The author interviewed a ton of people including those closest to the subject. But it's not organized particularly well -- it's not a chronology as most bios are -- instead it's episodic -- chapters about his partnership with Richie Ashburn, about his marriages, about his drinking, about his other sports work. The result is that it's repetitive, and way longer than it needed to be. And of all things, what's missing most is ... baseball ...! With all the memorable moments Harry voiced, you'd expect more of them to be woven in. Kind of a wasted opportunity.
December 14, 2011
How can a book that's supposed to be so controversial be so, so, so boring?
March 16, 2013
Interesting though not exactly the best writing. That's the only reason it didn't get more stars.
August 16, 2023
I was there with Harry from the time he first broadcast the Phillies in 1971 until the day that he died.
I knew about Harry's broadcasting career, but little about his life growing up and his personal behind the scenes life. The majority of Phillies fans knew Harry as the VOICE of the Phillies for 38 years. We were with him thru an number of broadcasting partners and a million Phillies ups and downs over that time period.
It isn't the greatest book in the sense that it could have been formatted differently. it is more of a tribute to Harry than a pure biography arranged in a time lined sequence. It bounces around like a storyteller among old friends. Here's one from back in the mid seventies in spring training..... and Randy Miller would tell what happened. It does cover all of the highlights of his career and takes you behind the scenes of the broadcast that most people no nothing about. I was very interested in his NFL era with NFL FILMS and doing NFL games on the radio.
Like many Bio's this one tells about the bad times and digs up some dirt about players and run -ins that Harry had with a few guys over the years. When you work in one place for so long everyone will have something on you. Just think of where you work. No one is perfect and that goes for Harry. He had his flaws . His drinking nearly cost him his second marriage and his life. His womanizing did cost him his first marriage, but in spite of all of his flaws he was adored by the fans of Philadelphia for always being loyal to them and the Phillies.
I enjoyed the book even though it could have been tighter and more detailed about his relationships with his children and his co-workers; but all in all I found it entertaining. That is what the book was intended to do.
4.5 stars out of 5 for Harry the K by Randy Miller.
I knew about Harry's broadcasting career, but little about his life growing up and his personal behind the scenes life. The majority of Phillies fans knew Harry as the VOICE of the Phillies for 38 years. We were with him thru an number of broadcasting partners and a million Phillies ups and downs over that time period.
It isn't the greatest book in the sense that it could have been formatted differently. it is more of a tribute to Harry than a pure biography arranged in a time lined sequence. It bounces around like a storyteller among old friends. Here's one from back in the mid seventies in spring training..... and Randy Miller would tell what happened. It does cover all of the highlights of his career and takes you behind the scenes of the broadcast that most people no nothing about. I was very interested in his NFL era with NFL FILMS and doing NFL games on the radio.
Like many Bio's this one tells about the bad times and digs up some dirt about players and run -ins that Harry had with a few guys over the years. When you work in one place for so long everyone will have something on you. Just think of where you work. No one is perfect and that goes for Harry. He had his flaws . His drinking nearly cost him his second marriage and his life. His womanizing did cost him his first marriage, but in spite of all of his flaws he was adored by the fans of Philadelphia for always being loyal to them and the Phillies.
I enjoyed the book even though it could have been tighter and more detailed about his relationships with his children and his co-workers; but all in all I found it entertaining. That is what the book was intended to do.
4.5 stars out of 5 for Harry the K by Randy Miller.
December 4, 2022
The subject matter (the life of Harry Kalas) would probably warrant a higher rating, but the writing itself is not particularly high level. Tends to repeat a lot of details, which makes the book sometimes read like a collection of magazine stories as opposed to a unified biography. Still, it's enjoyable to read, and probably much more so if you listened to Harry Kalas on the radio as a Phillies fan. I did not, so let that be your guide. I AM a sports fan, so that definitely helped. I tended, while reading this book, to think of Marty Brennaman, who I listened to as a kid in Virginia as the voice of the Virginia Squires in the old ABA, and then as the Cincinnati Reds announcer on WLW in Cincinnati, where I lived for a number of years as a young adult, having been a Reds fan even before arriving. People used to watch Reds games on TV with the sound off and listen to the radio broadcast instead, in order to hear "Marty and Joe" (Joe Nuxhall, "the old left-hander," Marty's longtime partner, a former player with the Reds) call the games. In my mind, I just thought about Marty and Joe in the place of Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn, and I could better "feel" what this biography attempts to capture about the relationship between Harry Kalas and the city of Philadelphia, Phillies fans in particular.
July 13, 2019
Beach read.
Loved HK growing up, but the book was somewhat boring. Same theme every chapter.
Loved HK growing up, but the book was somewhat boring. Same theme every chapter.
July 18, 2021
As a Philadelphia fan, this is a must read!
Read
May 17, 20252011
Read
October 24, 2020It took me a long time to finish this. I loved Harry Kalas. I grew up listening to him on the radio and tv every summer from when I was a little kid til his death in 2009. This book told me things I didn't know about Harry the K, some I wish I hadn't found out.
This wasn't the best written book I've come across, the author seemed to forget that he had already told the reader who each person was. It became pretty annoying to have every person identfied by full name after the first few chapters.
All in all, I'm very glad I read this book. Harry Kalas was someone I admired deeply for his passion, his love of the game and his love for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is greatly missed.
This wasn't the best written book I've come across, the author seemed to forget that he had already told the reader who each person was. It became pretty annoying to have every person identfied by full name after the first few chapters.
All in all, I'm very glad I read this book. Harry Kalas was someone I admired deeply for his passion, his love of the game and his love for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is greatly missed.
April 12, 2012
This is a fitting tribute to the voice of the Phillies. I'd call it a great read for anyone but a must read for a phils fan. Randy Miller had so much cooperation from and access to everyone of importance in Harry's life, and you can tell it's because they all wanted there to be a truly representative book for their beloved buddy. The excessive drinking, smoking and marital infidelities are all included. A tribute which ignores anything bad would be deceptive and therefore unworthy. But the heart of this book is its role as a celebration of Harry the K's life. From the baseball-obsessed days of his youth to the touching memorials of Harry's death, every aspect of this substantial life are covered with reverence, respect and love.
February 22, 2011
Some great stories, but the book didn't flow well, felt like it was jumping all over the place in telling them.
Harry Kalas was a great announcer, and a huge part of my experience growing up as a Phillies fan. Even though I never knew him personally, I shed a few tears when he passed, and again watching the memorial service from Citizens Bank Park. I realized that I had NEVER listened to a Phillies game that didn't have his voice bringing us the action.
While he wasn't a saint, the book shows his many sides, and the good that he did.
Harry Kalas was a great announcer, and a huge part of my experience growing up as a Phillies fan. Even though I never knew him personally, I shed a few tears when he passed, and again watching the memorial service from Citizens Bank Park. I realized that I had NEVER listened to a Phillies game that didn't have his voice bringing us the action.
While he wasn't a saint, the book shows his many sides, and the good that he did.
August 15, 2013
I'm not a Phillies fan, but I am a baseball fan and fan of NFL Films, both arenas where Kalas shined. Kalas' professionalism, desire to take care of his younger co-workers and especially his warmth come through--as well as some of his personal failings. Unlike many other people with failings, they're more weaknesses than meannesses, and some of them (such as his alcohol problems) were dealt with. He seems to have been a warm and wonderful friend to many; after reading the book, I wish I had known him.
May 13, 2010
I liked Harry better before I read this book. And I think that Chris Wheeler got a raw deal.
Best part: the funeral director escorting Harry's body back to Philadelphia is a huge Phillies fan. His cell phone goes off in the hearse. The ringtone is Harry's 2008 World Series call: "The 0-2 pitch...SWING AND A MISS! STRUCK HIM OUT!..." Awwwwwkkward.
Best part: the funeral director escorting Harry's body back to Philadelphia is a huge Phillies fan. His cell phone goes off in the hearse. The ringtone is Harry's 2008 World Series call: "The 0-2 pitch...SWING AND A MISS! STRUCK HIM OUT!..." Awwwwwkkward.
December 18, 2012
When he was around, I really didn't care all that much for Harry Kalas. I guess I really didn't appreciate him next to Richie Ashburn and Larry Andersen. But now that he's gone, I miss him, and after reading the book I see him in s whole nre light. We need more like him, not the imposters we have today (Wheeler, Matthews, and McCarthy).
June 18, 2010
A very well-researched biography of the legendary voice of the Phillies including incredible details about every phase of Harry Kalas's life. If you're a baseball fan, and especially a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, you will find this book to be very interesting.
May 8, 2010
Well done tribute to the immortal voice of the Phightins, but it doesn't really hit its stride until the narrative reaches Harry's final days. Regardless, a must read for all true fans.
Want to read
June 7, 2010just picked up this book from the library after waiting for it for a month.... we'll see.
September 2, 2010
Not only a great story of one of baseball's living legends but a history of Phillies baseball from the 1970's-present day. This is a must read for all Philadelphia Phillies fans.
Read
October 27, 2010did not finish, decided I would rather not know some things and just remember how much I loved his voice!
September 17, 2012
As a Phillies Fan, I loved it. Gave me some answers about the inner workings of the booth.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews