When it rains it pours and that’s the way it’s been over the last few days for Major League Baseball, all of it’s players and their fans around the world. With the recent loss of Nick Adenhart, from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last week still very fresh in the minds of everyone. It’s with great sadness I’m announcing the passing of two more icons. Mark “the Bird” Fidrych and legendary announcer from the Philadelphia Phillies, Harry Kalas, both passed away today.
Fidrych, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, was 54 years old and was found dead on his farm from an apparent accident. Kalas, the longtime announcer was 73 years old when he collapsed in the team’s booth prior to their game with the Washington Nationals this afternoon. After hearing the news on their passing earlier today, it got me thinking about the ole saying, everything happens in three’s! It’s really kinda freaky when you think about it, but it does generally for the most part happen that way.
These two men both brought their own uniqueness to the game they both so loved. For Fidrych who was the 1976 American League rookie of the year as he compiled a 19-9 record, it was unorthodox style on the field that brought him his fame. He was one of the first players to start the “High Five’s” on the mound with his teammates. Oh, and let us not forget his nickname “the Bird” as people often said he looked like “Big Bird” from Sesame Street. Fidrych was well underway to becoming one of the game’s best pitchers in the late 70’s only to have his career cut short in his prime due to various injuries.
In regards to Kalas, no one over the past forty plus years could ever match his passion and love of the game. And his passion wasn’t solely for baseball, he also brought it over to football and millions of more fans around the world as for many years he was the voice of “Inside the NFL”. Plus he gave the entire baseball community one of it’s favorite sayings as he was the man that made “Outta here”a part of the game. I remember as a kid growing up and than later on in life always hearing his famous “voice” on the TV, and just loving the way he called a game.
As all the fans of the Phillies have felt like since he first joined them back in 1971. Who would of ever thought back at that time all these years later Kalas, would still be in the booth calling each and every play on a daily basis. The passing of these men combined on top of the loss of Adenhart, has the baseball world coming together in this time of grief, which is exactly what they need to do. Joining as one and remembering all three of these men for their contributions on and off the field in regards to the sport they loved, baseball! You will all be remembered and very much missed! So in the immortal words of Kalas, it’s time for me to get “Outta here”!
RIP: Fidrych, Kalas and Adenhart!