Ernie Harwell Tribute at Comerica Park - 09/16/2009

What a great honor it was to share this night with the one and only Ernie Harwell. If you grew up anywhere in the U.S. midwest, or eastern Canada over the last 50 years or so... and are a fan of baseball, you know what a wonderful, irreplaceable talent he is. On countless sweltering Michigan summer nights for most of my life, I had the pleasure of hearing his booming voice calling Detroit Tigers baseball play-by-play, over the 50,000 watt clear-channel Great Voice of the Great Lakes, WJR-AM 760 from downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is hard to describe how I felt some days ago when Ernie told us all he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and has chosen not to seek treatment. Soon after I heard he would be at Wednesday nights game against the Royals, I snatched up a couple tickets behind home plate for me and my dad. This video is of a short but sweet little speech Ernie gave on this night. Folks, look up "class act" on wikipedia, and Ernie Harwell should be listed right at the top. There will never be another like him again.

btw, the Tigers came back and won the game for Ernie, on his night... 4-3.

We love you, Ernie. Thanks to you, and Lulu too for allowing you out of the house so much over the years. Bless you sir.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• ernie
• harwell
• tribute
• detroit
• tigers
• 2009
• mlb
• baseball
• farewell
• speech

[paul21turbo]

LETS PLAY BALL!!!

sorry i dont know who that is, :)

[LeilaniRocks]

Hey, Paul. Ernie (who worked for nearly 20 years on the radio with a guy named Paul...) is a much-beloved 92 year old baseball announcer from my side of the pond. Generations of us grew up with his voice... many apparently heard it before their mother's gave birth to them! Just a great guy we all love that is "moving on to another adventure", as he puts it. We are missing him already.

[kirby19711]

What a wonderful person!...rest in peace.

[lpncubs3]

RIP ernie harwell

[crjaded]

That was supposed to be a thumbs up! I hit the wrong icon by mistake. Love the Tigers, Love Detroit, and Love Ernie Harwell!

[meateateryea]

A True GEM

[whiteout2184]

let's make the playoffs..

[xdavanionx]

he should call the playoff games for the tigers one last time. God Bless you Ernie.

[mb3315]

c'mon ernie, stick around for the playoffs

[TrueBlueRoyal]

One of the true legends of the game. Keep on going Ernie!