If you would like to be on the ping list let me know.
This will be a medium volume ping list during the baseball season and a low volume ping list when all life stops in late October.
This breaks my heart although I knew the day would come.
Ernie: May God comfort you until your “turtle cries out”.
I grew up listening to Ernie. Godspeed, and prayers for Ernie and his family.
(”He stood there like the house by the side of the road...”)
The man is an absolute saint. He has been married to the same woman for 60 some years and was the voice of the Tigers since I was a kid. I am 62. I pray for him and wish him the best and God Speed. You won’t find a finer guy. God Bless you Earnie.
I still remember wondering, "how does he know that the guy who caught that ball is from Ypsilanti?"
Thoughts and Prayers, Ernie and family!! You are true Gem!
Very sorry to hear about this. I always enjoyed hearing him call games when I lived in Michigan. I will always remember the outcry after his unceremonious firing, which forced the Tigers to bring him back. A class act all the way, Ernie said he would only come back if nobody else lost their job as a result. The Tigers had a very crowded broadcast booth that season. Ernie began his career in the 1940’s, calling games for a minor-league team called the Atlanta Crackers. Looking back now it’s hard to believe that there actually WAS a team called the Atlanta Crackers! Prayers for Mr. Harwell and his family.
Love that guy.
Even decades after leaving Detroit, I can still recognize his voice.
From a former Michigander, I was deeply sadened to hear the bad news today. Harwell is still the best baseball broadcaster that I have ever heard. I grew up listening to Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey on those long summer nights. Harwell’s a classy guy and didn’t back down in 1991 when former Tigers owner Tom Monahan (owner of Domino’s Pizza) was going to let him go. Harwell was reportedly told to resign due to “health reasons.” Harwell said “no,” called a press conference and told the press the truth, that he was being fired. I’ve hated Monahan and Domino’s ever since.
I’ll never forget Harwell’s famous calls:
“And he stood there like the house beside the road and watched that one go by.”
“And it is looooooooooooooooong gone!”
I was always perplexed growing up how Harwell, from his broadcast booth, could find out so quickly the hometown of the foul ball catcher in the stands. It would go something like this ... “And Kirk Gibson swings and fouls one off behind the the Tigers’ dugout. And a young man from -———— makes a nice catch in the stands.” Harwell would fill in the blanks with a Michigan city or town. I always wondered, how did he know the man was from Flint? How did he know? He made it up! That’s the magic of radio from a magical and legendary baseball announcer, Ernie Harwell.
Prayers for Mr. Harwell.
My favorite broadcaster growing up. His voice jumped out of a cheap clock radio sounding like hi-fi stereo. They don’t make them like him any more.
Sad MI ping.
As a lifelong Tigers fan this is a day I’ve been dreading for a long time, even though at 91 years old, that’s a pretty good run. May his remaining time be in comfort.
I certainly empathize with you Tiger fans. As a Cardinal fan, we went through this several years ago with the loss of the irreplaceable Jack Buck.
If you would like to be on the ping list let me know.
This will be a medium volume ping list during the baseball season and a low volume ping list when all life stops in late October.
One of the all time great broadcasters of baseball. An icon.
Prayers for a wonderful man.
A Tiger fan since 1967, I spent many evenings on the back porch listening to Ernie on the radio. Later I “graduated” to headphones on the living room floor (so I wouldn’t bother the TV watchers). Radio was the only game in town....
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