Hall of Fame announcer Kalas dies

WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) -- Harry Kalas, Hall of Fame member and the longtime voice of the Philadelphia Phillies, died Monday, the National League club announced. He was 73.

"We lost Harry today," team President David Montgomery said. "We lost our voice."

Kalas was found unconscious after collapsing in the press box at Nationals Stadium in Washington about 12:30 p.m. and was taken to George Washington University Medical Center, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. He died at 1:20 p.m., the newspaper said.

The cause of death wasn't disclosed.

The newspaper said the Phillies and Nationals would play their game Monday but the team wouldn't visit the White House Tuesday as scheduled.

Kalas had missed most of spring training after undisclosed surgery in February. A detached retina sidelined him part of last season.

Kalas, a native of Naperville, Ill., had broadcast Phillies games since 1971. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

He began his broadcasting career in 1961 calling minor league games for the Hawaii Islanders while still in the U.S. Army. He made his major league debut in 1965 with the Houston Astros and was hired by the Phillies in 1971.