Ernie Harwell has died

michael777 · May 4, 2010

Ernie Harwell, one of baseball’s more revered and respected broadcasters died, Tuesday evening after a year-long bout with cancer. He was 92.
Harwell, the longtime Tigers broadcaster, died at home. According to the Detroit Free-Press:
He died in his apartment at Fox Run Village, a retirement center in Novi, with Lulu, his wife of 68 years, at his side. His death came eight months to the day after he revealed to his fans, in an interview with the Free Press, that he had a cancerous tumor in the area of his bile duct and that in late July he had been given only a few months to live.
Harwell told MLB Network’s Bob Costas in a November interview, “This will be my last World Series, I think. Back in July, the doctors gave me six months to live, give or take a few months. I’m hoping to reach my birthday on January 25 but I’m pretty sure I won’t make the baseball season. But you never know as the Lord works wonders.”
More details as they become available. Our condolances to the Harwell family.

michael777 · May 4, 2010

Longtime Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell died Tuesday after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 92.

He was scheduled to receive the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Broadcasting on Wednesday.

Harwell was with the Tigers radio broadcast team from 1960 to 1991. After a one-season dismissal from the team, he did Tigers radio and TV from 1993 through 2002.

He said last September he has inoperable cancer, a month after surgery for an obstructed bile duct. He was honored with a tribute during a game at Comerica Park on Sept. 16.

Harwell's 55-year career began in Atlanta in 1946. He moved two years later to the Brooklyn Dodgers. After stints with the New York Giants and Baltimore Orioles, he started his long association with the Tigers.

Harwell was voted the 1981 Ford Frick Award for major contributions to baseball by the Hall of Fame.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

wannabewhale · May 4, 2010

joebatters · May 4, 2010

RIP
He was just great.

Fishhead · May 4, 2010

BEST EVER in my mind

VIN SCULLY should be recieving the ERNIE HARWELL AWARD.

BostonBettor · May 4, 2010

A broadcast legend. Growing up on the East Coast, I was often able to pick up the signal coming out of Detroit (at that time 760 on you A.M. dial) and listen to the gravelly, but golden voice of Ernie Harwell. R.I.P. Ernie.

Gravy · May 4, 2010

You will be missed and RIP Ernie (<)<

SayHeyKid · May 4, 2010

One of the greatest of all time....

I can remember like yesterday his last public apperance at Comerica when he said he was "ready to go and enjoyed his time here". Well, I , like many others was blessed to have him here, and only wish I heard more...

RIP, a true hero.

TheDopeman · May 5, 2010

R.I.P Ernie Harwell 1918-2010

My thoughts and prayers go out to Ernie's family and friends..

This hall of fame broadcaster was the greatest to have ever called a baseball game.. If you disagree you never heard this man call a game..
I grew up in Detroit listening to this man.. If you ever went to the old tigers stadium after comerica was built and just stood there, it's almost as if you could hear his voice calling the game....

We miss you Ernie and you will never be forgotten

RIP

goblue12 · May 5, 2010

A big reason why I will never forget Game 3 of the 2006 ALDS.

lefty357 · May 5, 2010

Song of Solomon 2:11-12
Each new baseball season announced by Ernie Harwell was kicked off with this quote from the Bible.

For, lo, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of the singing of birds is come,
And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

lefty357 · May 5, 2010

Harwell's Signature Calls
Over the years Ernie Harwell would develop a lot of signature calls. His calls were never forced, he let things come natural and it shows.

Two for the price of one - Double Play

Stood there like the house by the side of the road - Player looking/taking a called third strike

Called out for excessive window shopping - same as above

An umpire "gets the family look" from a player or manager - "like when you're a kid and someone takes the last biscuit, you give him/her the family look."

When the fans boo their disagreement with the umpires - "Some of the umpires who paid to get in disagreed with that call."

Caught by a man from Kalamazoo - Harwell began this tradition with the Tigers. When a foul ball went into the stands and was caught by a fan he would announce the town they were from (just a random Michigan town at home games) to make the game more intimate.

And of course -

That ball's Loooonnngggg Gone! Harwell's signature and beloved home run call.

Listen to these calls by Ernie here.

lefty357 · May 5, 2010

curated content from YouTube
Ernie Harwell's Final Sign-Off - September 29, 2002
"The Tigers have just finished their 2002 season and I have just finished my baseball broadcasting career. And it's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello.

Hello to a new adventure. I'm not leaving folks. I'll still be with you. Living my life in Michigan - my home state surrounded by family and friends. And rather than goodbye, please allow me to say thank you.

Thank you for letting me be part of your family. Thank you for taking me with you to that cottage up north, to the beach, the picnic, your workplace, your backyard.

Thank you for sneaking your transistor under the pillow as you grew up loving the Tigers. Now I might have been a small part of your life, but you've been a very large part of mine.

And it's my privilege and honor to share with you the greatest game of all.

Now God has a new adventure for me and I'm ready to move on. So I'll leave you with a deep sense of appreciation for your longtime loyalty and support. I thank you very much and God Bless all of you."

lefty357 · May 5, 2010

Did you know Ernie Harwell was traded for a catcher?
Crazy, but true
During the 1948 season while broadcasting for the Atlanta Crackers Ernie Harwell was traded for Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Cliff Dapper. The Crackers needed a manager (which Cliff became) and the Dodgers needed an announcer.

Ernie Harwell is the only announcer in baseball history who can say that he was traded for a catcher.

1 of the best ..R.I.P. ERNIE

wilheim · May 5, 2010

A sad day for baseball but even sadder for the City of Detroit...

Ernie Harwell a baseball legend who will always be remembered for as long as baseball has play by play announcers. The city of Detroit and the state of Michigan has lost one of it's finest citizens tonight but IMO Ernie would not want a lot of tears and sadness, he would rather see his beloved Tigers win their Division and get into The World Series.

In many ways Ernie personified Tigerr baseball more than great Tiger stars like Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich, Kirk Gibson and the many others who played in Detroit from 1960 until 2002. He is simply irreplaceable and veteran Tiger fans know it..

I remember listening to his broadcasts of the 1984 World Series, truly classic and a great time for Tiger fans everywhere, the most ardent of all was Earnie himself...

To qoute the great Vince Scully when he spoke about Earnie:

"He's such a lovely man. He loves baseball, and he treats it with great respect and dignity."

RIP Ernie Harwell...

wil.

wilheim · May 5, 2010

Tribute to Ernie Harwell at Coamerica Park last year..

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VIEJODINOSAUR · May 5, 2010

Agree with everyone here...he was at the pinnacle of all announcers...

WorldNumberOne · May 5, 2010

Fishhead said:
BEST EVER in my mind

VIN SCULLY should be recieving the ERNIE HARWELL AWARD.

been a long time between intelligent statements for fishhead , but you are dead on here...

He was simply the best ever....

JohnnyMac · May 5, 2010

He was a better person than a baseball announcer, and he was a terrific baseball announcer. Congratulations on a life well-lived.

FairWarning · May 5, 2010

I missed the tribute last year, thanks for posting that Wil. Sad day for the state of Michigan.

Ernie Harwell has died

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