Just seeing that date conjures wonderful images for natives of the Delaware Valley. Every Phillies fan remembers where they were when Brad Lidge got Eric Hinske to swing over a slider to cap the Perfect Season with a World Series title.
On that night and throughout that postseason, I served as Comcast SportsNets field producer for Phillies games, meaning I went to every game and organized our pre- and post-game coverage from the ballpark. 2008 marked my first year performing that particular task. Being 24 years old, my main thought every night of that postseason was: Dont mess it up.
That idea lingered over my head for an entire month because I knew the Phillies were winning the World Series that season.
As a native Philadelphian, I had doubts when Mitch Williams took the ball in Game 6. I had doubts after Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals. I even had doubts after Duce Staley gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead against the Bucs. You live in Philly, you have doubts. Its in the DNA.
When Jimmy Rollins started the double play to clinch the NL East on the final Saturday of the season, I knew the Phillies were winning the World Series. No doubt.
Prior to the resumption of Game 5, we had a staff meeting in our Comcast SportsNet offices to discuss our plan for that night in a clinching scenario. Someone (I honestly forget who, my apologies) suggested we should send a camera into the Phillies radio booth if they were winning in the ninth inning to capture Harry Kalas making the call for which he waited a lifetime. As most of you know, Kalas could not call the 1980 World Series live due to MLB regulations at the time. The rule was changed after the 1980 series because of an outpouring from Philadelphia. If the Phillies were going to be in the World Series, the local fans wanted Harry Kalas.
With the Phillies permission, video journalist extraordinaire Jerry Hines and I made our way from the press box to the radio booth prior to the top of the ninth inning. Jerry asked Phillies broadcaster Jim Jackson if he would leave his seat so that he could have a clear camera angle at Harrys face. Thankfully for us, J.J. was gracious enough to give up his perfect view at history.
MLB
While Jerry set up his shot, I positioned myself about 18 inches behind Harry, perched directly over his shoulders. There was nothing left for me to do until the final out so I waited and listened as closely as I could.
A city kid by birth, I never idolized Harry Kalas. I dont mean that as a slight. I just dont think you can idolize a friend and Kalas always made you feel like you were friends, even if you never met him. For me, it was his greatest gift as a broadcaster. On that night, I wasnt watching a legend fulfill his destiny. Rather, I had a front row seat as my friend lived his dream.
By now, most Phillies fans have seen the video of Kalas call. Its a Hall of Famer at his legendary best. He was so good in that moment that I didnt even realize Chris Wheeler had gone into convulsions and I was three feet away from him. My attention was solely on Kalas voice converging perfectly with the celebratory mood at Citizens Bank Park... WORLD CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL!
That signature call came at the end of Harry's career. In some ways, I envy him for that because I have to live with the fact that Ill never have a moment in my career that tops what happened when I was 24. Hard to believe, Harry.
All of that aside, Im just happy that I could share that moment with my friend.