Beloved Phillies announcer Kalas dies

Broadcaster Harry Kalas, whose "Outta here" home run call was a staple of Philadelphia baseball for almost 40 years, died after collapsing at a game.

Kalas, 73, collapsed in the broadcast booth before the World Series champion Phillies' contest against the Washington Nationals.

"We lost our voice today," Phillies president David Montgomery said. "He has loved our game and made just a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization."

Kalas, whose baritone voice had kept long-suffering Phillies fans abreast of their team's news since 1971, was beloved by the team's faithful.

He usually called only the middle three innings on radio, but when the Phillies won their second World Series title last autumn, Kalas was on the mike for the final out of the clinching game, and then joined the on-field celebrations.

His colleague Scott Franzke said that Kalas was always willing to record his trademark "Outta here!" line for fans who wanted it on their answering machines or, more recently, voice mail messages.

"Players come and go," Franzke said, "but 'Outta here!' - that's forever."

Kalas also became familiar to fans of the National Football League, joining NFL Films as a narrator in 1975.

There was a moment of silence in Kalas' memory before the Phillies-Nationals game, and at other ballparks around the country on Monday.