Fans created an impromtu memorial to the late Harry Kalas at the Mike Schmidt statue outside the third base entrance to the ballpark.The ballpark tribute held this afternoon to Harry Kalas was remarkable. Greeted by co-owner Bill Giles and CEO Dave Montgomery, thousands of fans filed into the ballpark this morning to pay their respects to Harry Kalas, whose casket was placed behind home plate. Some stayed for the afternoon memorial service, held in warm sunshine and mild breezes. Governor Rendell and Mayor Nutter, who both have distinctive speaking voices, gave fittingly personable tributes. Jamie Moyer, who grew up listening to Kalas, spoke for the current players. Mike Schmidt gave a beautifully eloquent and profound eulogy to his late friend. Then 19-year-old Kane Kalas, displaying stunning composure, spoke intimately and movingly about his father, as his older brothers looked on.
At the end, all joined in singing High Hopes, Kalas' signature song, then his "traveling company", made of present and former Phillies players and personnel, formed a double line and hand over hand carried the casket to the hearse. Starting with the suited oldheads and moving through former players, then lastly on to the uniformed members of the current team, it made for a vividly emotional scene. As Kalas had wished, Bridge over Troubled Waters played at the end.
I only happened to see the tribute on television and am glad that I did. The Phillies do ceremonies better than most; none do them better.
Last night's game, kids' opening night at the park, started with some kids helping hand out player awards from 2008: Gold Gloves to Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino, the Mel Ott award for most homers to Ryan Howard, the Silver Slugger award to Chase Utley, and the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year to Brad Lidge.
Brett Myers got the start and was mildly effective for six. May that be a step in the right direction. The game went back and forth with the scrapping Padres. I left after the 7th in part to listen to the radio broadcast. Madson again allowed a go-ahead run in the 8th, then the Phillies came back to go ahead. Time for Brad Lidge in the 9th, which turned out to be when he finally blew his streak of perfection, which went back to September 23, 2007 while he was still with the Astros. A splendid run: 47 consecutive saves in the regular season (the third-longest such streak in baseball history), plus seven more in the post-season. Many kudos to Mr. Lidge. In the end the Phillies lost 8-5.
After the many emotional highs and lows of the past two weeks, I cannot fault the team for anything. I only hope that they soon get into some kind of baseball rhythm. Yo, pitchers, time to get it together. Raul Ibanez leads the offense, which has been pretty good, but Jimmy Rollins needs to get on track, and on base, for this team to do what it should.
