Top 10 Calls In Philadelphia Sports History

Yesterday, Joe Posnanski of Sports Illustrated put up a post listing what he felt were the 32 best calls by announcers in the history of sports. Now something like that is very difficult to do and the list is purely subjective (though I don't think many people will doubt Al Michael's call of the Miracle on Ice as #1), but something from that list was missing. No Philadelphia team's accomplishment/announcer cracked the list of 32. Sure Christian Laettner shot to beat Kentucky happened in the Spectrum, and Joe Carter's HR in the 1993 World Series had the Phillies on the wrong end of it (I have no recollection of 1993, so I can listen to the call without going into deep depression), but there was no Philadelphia announcer nor was any Philadelphia team actually accomplishing something (unless you count losing the World Series on a walk off HR an accomplishment). So without further ado, here is my list of the top 10 calls in the history of Philadelphia sports. Now let me warn you, I am a 21-year old college student who has no personal memory of anything before 1993. Sure I know some history, but I can't say I know every great call. If you feel something is missing, feel free to mention it in the comments and link to the video and/or audio of the call. The list is on the other side of the jump.


#10. Verne Lundquist calls Scottie Reynolds' game-winning shot against Pitt in the 2009 Elite Eight.

Posnanski started his list with a Verne Lundquist Elite 8 game-winning shot call, well, 17 tournaments later, Verne had another one, and this one feature suburban Philadelphia's Villanova University.

"Throw it to Reynolds. Oh!!!!!"



#9. Harry Kalas tells Chase Utley he is the man.

This Harry Kalas fellow is going to appear on this list quite a few times. This time he is complimenting the tremendous ability of Chase Utley to score from 2nd base on a 60 foot Ryan Howard dribbler, after Utley himself reached 2nd base on a bases clearing double. Sure the defense from the Braves is not great (not that it really ever is), but the heads-up play by Utley is phenomenal.

"There goes Chase and this is chopped to McBride who throws it, oh, and Chase is going to keep going and he's safe at home plate! ... Chase Utley you are the man! Wow! What a base-running play after a bases clearing double and the Phillies lead it 6-3."



#8. Bill Campbell and Chamberlain's 100 point game

Nowadays, if something historic is happening in any sporting event in America, it is very easy to find out what is happening either through ESPN, the internet, or mobile apps and follow the history through there. But back in 1962, no such things existed. Not only was 2010 technology not around in 1962, but on this night, there were no sportswriters at the game in Hershey, PA, and the game went untelevised. But that did not stop Wilt Chamberlain from putting on the single greatest scoring performance in NBA history. And luckily, there was at least a radio broadcast to capture the moment.

"The most amazing scoring performance of all time. 100 points for the Big Dipper."
Click on this link, scroll across the bar in the middle of the screen until 100 pops up. Click on 100 and listen to one of the greatest calls in Philadelphia sports history)

#7. Jim Jackson transforms himself into a boxing announcer

To say that this was a night of the absurd, would be an understatement. Twice in the course of a year, Martin Havlat injured Flyers by high-sticking them in the face. On Friday, March 5, 2004, the Flyers had enough. What ensued was quite possibly one of the biggest series of brawls and fights the NHL had ever seen over the course of one game. And it's only fitting that on a Friday Night where fighting was the norm, the most famous call would be slightly reminiscent of perhaps the greatest boxing call of all time.

"And Patrick Sharp will go with Jason Spezza. Patrick Sharp hammers him with a right! Down he goes! Down goes Spezza! Down goes Spezza!"



#6 Merrill Reese calls Westbrook's Modern-Day Miracle at the Meadowlands

Combine one of the best plays in Philadelphia Eagles history with one of the best announcers in all of football, and there is no way Merrill Reese's call of Brian Westbrook's famous game-winning punt return for a touchdown at the Meadowlands is going unpublished.

"Westbrook takes it, with some running room. Up to the 25, the 30. The 35, 40, 45, midfield, 45, 40, 35, 30! Brian Westbrook! He's going, he's gone! Touchdown! Brian Westbrook! 84 yards, no penalty flags. I don't believe it! Brian Westbrook has just exploded, and with 1:16 remaining, this place is in a state of shock."



#5 (tie). Simon Gagne's playoff heroics inspire great calls

• Gary Thorne calls Simon Gagne's OT Game 7-forcing goal

Often times, calls from national announcers are forgotten.  It's the local announcing calls that get all the fame and notoriety.  But not this one.  I have seen numerous Flyers playoff and Simon Gagne highlight packages in the past 6 years, and in almost every one of them, this goal with this call by Gary Throne of ESPN is put in there.  Not only is this Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 one of my favorite games of all times (even if the Flyers wound up losing Game 7 and this series), but for awhile, this literally was one of my favorite calls by any announcer of all time. From a simple linguistic standpoint, the words are very unimpressive and uninspiring, but the way Gary screams them in the heat of the moment.....it gives me goosebumps.

"Side of the net, Roenick shot, and score! Simon Gagne! We've got a Game 7!"

• Jim Jackson on Simon Gagne's game-winning goal in a Game 7 where the Flyers once trailed 3-0 in a series where the Flyers once trailed 3-0.

History was made.

"Richards, a shot redirected.  Gagne shot, he scores!  Simon Gagne!  Can you believe it?  Powerplay goal and the Flyers all the way back now lead this thing four to three."



#4 (tie.) Scott Franzke calls 2 historic Roy Halladay pitching performances

• Scott Franzke on Perfection

"The wind, the 1-2 pitch. Swing and a groundball left side, Castro's got it. Spins, throws, he got him! A perfect game for Roy Halladay! 27 up and 27 down. Halladay is mobbed at the mound as the Phillies celebrate perfection tonight in Miami!"

• Scott Franzke on the 2nd ever post-season no-hitter

In my lifetime, I have watched only 2 no-hitters from start to finish, both of them in 2010. The first one was Matt Garza's. The second one was Roy Halladay's unforgettable post-season no-no against the top offense in the NL in 2010, the Cincinnati Reds.

"Swing and a dribbler out in front of the plate. Ruiz out to get it. The throw from his knees, it's in time! And it's a no-hitter! Unbelievable! Ruiz and Halladay embrace and the Phillies again celebrate around Roy Halladay. 4-0, it's the second no-hitter in Major League post-season history!"



#3. Gene Hart calls the Flyers 1st Stanley Cup Championship

The Flyers were not the 1st team to adopt a physical style hockey. Hell, that only came about because they were bullied in a playoff series against the St. Louis Blues. But, the Flyers were the 1st team to win a championship with it, and when they did, the late great Gene Hart had the iconic call of this glorious moment in Flyers history.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!"



#2. Harry Kalas calls Mike Schmidt's 500th career home run

Arguably, the most famous call in the illustrious and legendary career of Harry Kalas.

"Swing and a long drive! There it is! Number 500! The career 500th home run for Michael Jack Schmidt!"

Click here to watch the video and hear the call

#1 Harry Kalas finally calls a live World Series win

Harry Kalas started his broadcasting career with the Houston Astros in 1965. He spent 6 seasons there, but not once did the Astros get to the World Series during that time frame. In 1971, he came to Philadelphia where he would stay until his death. During the 1980 World Series, local broadcasters were not allowed to broadcast World Series game, even if by radio. The lone live call of the 1980 championship was that of Bryant Gumbel. Harry Kalas did get a chance to re-create the moment, but the fact that it was not a live call and Kalas already knew the outcome kind of takes the fun out of things. Philadelphia fans were outraged over this, protested heavily, and in large part because of the protests of Philadelphia fans in 1980 that MLB decided to end this silly ban and to allow local broadcasters to announce the game locally via radio. So when 2008 came along, it would be the first time in the legendary career of Harry Kalas that he got to broadcast live a World Series victory for the Philadelphia Phillies. The call by Harry is unforgettable, and all the more meangingful given the fact that he would tragically pass away only 5 and a half months later.

"Swing and a miss, struck him out! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 world champions of baseball! Brad Lidge has done it again and stays perfect for the 2008 season!"