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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I joined the ranks of the Tiger faithful in 1971, and also grew up with the sounds of Ernie and Paul in my transistor radio....remember the west coast trips in summer, when I had the radio under my pillow to muffle the noise at 1 am, as to not wake up my brother in the same bedroom.
the 72 season, the embarrasement of 1975,the rebirth of Tiger baseball with The Bird (RIP), and the slow talent gathering that led to a glorious year in 1984. An incredible run in 1987, and then years of medicocrity..and through it all, Ernie was our rock.
I met Ernie in 1989 at Tiger Stadium, quite by chance.
God Bless you, Ernie Harwell. You were a huge part of my childhood, and helped to fire a lifelong love affair with the greatest sport.