Ernie Harwell: That's Baseball

Ernie Harwell, the voice of the Detroit Tigers for 42 years, has passed away at the age of 92. He had a Hall of Fame broadcasting career, calling play-by-play for 8,500 MLB games over 55 years. Here's an excerpt from a New York Times article:

Mr. Harwell’s popularity in Detroit and beyond was underestimated when, in 1990, WJR radio decided that the 1991 season would be his last. Bumper stickers, T-shirts and billboards carried messages of protest. Detroit Red Wings fans chanted, “We want Ernie!” at a hockey game.

Fortunately, under new ownership, the Tigers were able to get Harwell back calling games in 1993.

I didn't really know much about Harwell until the Tigers invited him back for a tribute last September. And tonight I've done a little more searching. Here's an audio clip from Harwell's 1981 Hall of Fame induction speech:



Baseball will miss Ernie Harwell.