RIP Ernie Harwell

Pro Sports 12 replies 669 views
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osu99
Posts: 333
May 4, 2010 8:26pm
You will be missed....

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5163285

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.
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rugbywrestler
Posts: 462
May 4, 2010 8:35pm
Very sad, what a legend...
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Dr Jones
Posts: 52
May 4, 2010 9:31pm
best ever....rip Mr Harwell
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cat_lover
Posts: 2,388
May 4, 2010 9:32pm
Enjoyed hearing him call a game. RIP.
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queencitybuckeye
Posts: 7,117
May 4, 2010 10:04pm
One of the greats.
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sportswizuhrd
Posts: 3,215
May 5, 2010 1:03am
RIP Mr.Harwell

Glad that Mr.Harwell and the Tigers fans and the baseball world were able to say good bye at Comerica in September the way he wanted to. True legend and one of the best in broadcasting history.
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Foul Tip
Posts: 113
May 5, 2010 3:27am
There were many nights as a young boy I would fall asleep listening to the soothing voice of Ernie on my transistor tucked under my pillow.

As far as I'm concerned, he was the greatest baseball brodcaster of all time.
KnightXC1's avatar
KnightXC1
Posts: 1,031
May 5, 2010 3:35pm
Basically grew up listening to Ernie on the radio as I went to sleep every night. The best baseball announcer ever and one of the nicest men to ever grace this Earth. Wish I could have met him just once simply to shake his hand and thank him for all the wonderful memories he brought to my childhood. During the Tigers magical run in 2006, ESPN brought him into the TV booth for the Kenny Rogers game against the Yankees and let him call a whole inning. Sent goosebumps then and now when I watch that game when Rogers struck out a Yankee (can't remember who) and Ernie delivered the "He stood there like a house on the side of the road and watched it go by". Was just another great memory from a great human being.

RIP Ernie, you were the very best.
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vball10set
Posts: 24,795
May 5, 2010 3:39pm
believe it or not,I was able to sit with him at a CYO function in Toledo back in the mid 90's...what a genuinely nice guy--no pretentiousness at all...sports nation (all sports) will miss him dearly...
darbypitcher22's avatar
darbypitcher22
Posts: 8,000
May 5, 2010 6:10pm
Didnt hear him often but the times I did always loved the way he called a game. Guys like him and Vin Scully are one of the reasons baseball is such a great game
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Footwedge
Posts: 9,265
May 5, 2010 6:24pm
Would listen to Harwell and Ray Lane during the summer of 68 on WJR while living in Cleveland. That was the year McClain won 31 games and Lolich won 3 games in the World Series and the Tigers beat Bob Gibson in game 7. And I was a die hard Indian fan.

I hated the Tigers, but I thought Harwell was really good.
THE4RINGZ's avatar
THE4RINGZ
Posts: 16,816
May 5, 2010 7:43pm
Another one of the greatest voices in all of sports is gone.

Rest in Peace.
KnightXC1's avatar
KnightXC1
Posts: 1,031
May 7, 2010 7:57pm
Went up to Detroit yesterday for the memorial at Comerica Park and thought it was very classy with everything set up right by his statue at the main gate. Was even more impressed that Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski was shaking everyone's hand as they walked through. Was very polite and seemed touched how many people had shown up. Great gesture by him.