Posted on 09/16/2009 10:10:38 PM PDT by jazzo
DETROIT -- Ernie Harwell has said a goodbye of sorts to the Detroit Tigers' fans.
The longtime radio play-by-play man humbly waved to the crowd at Comerica Park on Wednesday night after thanking them for their "devotion, support, loyalty and love." Harwell was the voice of the Tigers for more than 40 years.
He spoke halfway through the third inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals.
Harwell drew loud ovations before and after he came to the batter's box to speak.
The 91-year-old Harwell recently was diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the bile duct. He came to Detroit in 1960 and retired from the broadcast booth after the 2002 season.
The Tigers hope he can participate in a celebration of the 1984 championship team later this month.
I remember that every time someone hit a foul ball into the stands Ernie would say “And a young man from Ypslanti will go home with a souvenier from the ball park tonight.”
I grew up listening to Ned Martin and Ken Coleman on the Red Sox radio and TV team. They were class guys. I wish that I got to listen more of Ernie Harwell. I only got to hear very little of him. The only way to hear Harwell was to tune in after 9 PM when the Detroit station turned on the 50,000 watt flamethrower.
I miss Tiger Stadium. The porch in right field was so cool. Yaz used to kill the Tigers there. He hit 36 homers there. Most on the road of any ballpark that he played in.
I remember that every time someone hit a foul ball into the stands Ernie would say “And a young man from Ypslanti will go home with a souvenier from the ball park tonight.”
Ken Coleman on Red Sox radio in the 80's used to the same thing. He had to copy that from Ernie. I remember when a fan would catch a foul ball. He would reply that a fan from Putnam CT caught the ball. During the season he name hundreds of NE towns.
Prayers for a great man.
I always thought Tigers fans were very knowledgable. I remember the 1968 pennant run. Gates Brown, the pinch hitter who always killed the Red Sox. Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Jim Northrup, Stormin Norman Cash, Dick McAuliffe(CT. Native), Ray Oyler, Don Wert, Mickey Stanley, Jim Freehan, super sub Dick Tracewski. The pitching staff of McLain, Lolich, Wilson and Sparma. The relief corps of Hiller, Dobson and Wyatt. I also remember they picked up Eddie Matthews, Don McMahon and Elroy Face in the late season.
I have a baseball signed by all of the players you mentioned. BTW, remember the wreckless abandon style of play Mickey Stanley showed in the outfield? Ah, the lazy days of my youth.
Mickey Stanley was well know as being one of best defensive centerfielders of his time. Mayo Smith brought him in to play shortsop, because Tracewski and Oyler couldn’t hit. They put Northrup in centerfield, it was a stroke of genuis. The Tigers went on to win the pennant by large margain. I was 10 years old, but remember this. Stormin Norman Cash was always my favorite Tiger. Too bad he died young at 51 by drowning. Left handed hitter who targeted the overhang in rightfield.
Bill Freehan, not Jim.
I was only 11 but I can remember just about every name on that lineup.
I was 8 years old and attended the pennant clinching game with my family. Tigers beat the Yankees. Joe Sparma on the hill (late replacement for Earl Wilson), Don Wert with the winning hit, huge celebration followed the game. Those were the days .....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paWJl3qpUIM&feature=player_embedded
Here’s the video - the farewell address starts around the 3:00 mark
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