I met Ernie at a grocery store when I was 9 or 10 years old. I was there with my dad and I noticed him. I asked my dad if I could say hello, but he told me not to bother him. I must have said it loud enough for Ernie to hear because he came over and introduced himself to me. We ended up talking for about 15 minutes. I remember that day more vividly than almost any other day. I will miss Ernie so much. What a beautiful man.
Red Sox fan here. I can't say enough about this man. Detroit and Tiger fans, you were blessed to have this guy. What a great human being and baseball fan.
He's 92. He's dying, and he knows it. He says farewell and departs to a tremendous ovation. He steps one foot off the field and a schmuck shoves a ball and a Sharpie towards him in hot pursuit of an autograph. There's a time and place for everything--this was not the time to ask for an autograph.
As a lad growing up in Michigan I learned the love of the game of baseball listening to Ernie on WJR.In the 60s and 70s not a lot of games were on TV so we listened to them on radio.Ernie was what baseball sounded like.I can still hear in my mind his call in 1968 of Al Kaline scoring the winning run to clinch the pennant.Ernie was the best baseball announcer of all time.
Boy, I am a big Red Sox Fan, 51 and even bigger Baseball fanatic and student of the Game's History. This MAN was a true Legend... can't watch this Video without shedding a Tear.. R.I.P. Mr. Harwell ..
this video gets me every time. I grew up in the 90s listening to almost every game on the radio. I am so fortunate to have been able to enjoy my favorite sport with one of the best radio announcers of all-time. He truly meant the world to all Detroit Tigers fans and those who follow baseball. Baseball will never be the same as he called it. RIP Ernie. Thank you for everything.
I was on vacation when Ernie passed... not being able to go and pay my respects probably was the worst feeling in the world... He was the greatest man on the face of the earth...
There was a sign that I saw when they were scanning the crowd and it said "Baseball is Ernie Harwell." I think that is all there is needed to know about Ernie. My earliest memories are of being outside on summer days and listening to him call games. Even if the Tiger's weren't very good, he made the games entertaining and enjoyable. Besides baseball, he is also one of the greatest men to ever walk the face of God's green Earth. There will never be another like him
Thanks Ernie, you were so much a part of my childhood, growing up in Detroit and listening to your voice all those nights over the radio--Rest In Peace Forever
RIP Ernie. Everytime I watch this I only hope that I can be so blessed at the age of 91! Did you see the way he walked right out onto that field. God bless you Ernie!
Ernie Harwell was The Voice of my childhood. Listening to him and Paul Carey call the games when I was a Youngster lying in my bed with my radio by the pillow. My dad used to get mad because I fall asleep and leave the radio on. But it was worth it to hear Ernie. One of the signs in the stands in this video said what a human being should be like or something like that. So true. Nobody had Ernie's heart and love and dedication to the game of baseball. Certainly one of the greatest broadcasters ever it's not the greatest. I will never forget 3 things from my past. Tiger Stadium, Ernie Harwell and WJR. He was loved by so many and I miss him so much.RIP Ernie Harwell. The voice of Summer
Ernie had the amazing ability to make you feel like you were his long time friend when you listened to him in the booth. This is such a sad day for Detroit. I will always remember him. R.I.P.
Ernie. Your voice has been a part of more than half of my life, sitting with my grandparents listening to you, you made me enjoy the game when I had no clue what was going on. Now I'm a die hard fan. Thank you, and God bless your spirit.
I may not have been around to hear Ernie Harwell for very long being born in December '84, I still remember him calling games when I would listen to games on the radio. You will be missed, Ernie. You will always be a Tiger. May God show peace and rest to your weary, wonderful soul.
I was born in 1979, so I had a good run with Ernie on the radio. I remember laying on my bed with a radio at the end and just listening to Ernie's broadcasts. I'm actually glad I didn't have cable TV and could only watch about 1 in 3 games.
Man, those were the days, being a kid in the 1960's and on ANY summer night, walking or riding your bike and on almost every porch, people sitting outside listening to Ernie Harwell on the radio, calling the Tiger's games:))))) Was such a treasure...looking back:)))
Just hearing Ernie's voice brings back so many strong memories from my childhood. It's a voice that makes you feel good. He will be missed so much. He said that his death would just be another adventure. I hope you enjoy it Ernie. Thank you so much for providing so many with wonderful memories that will last us until we begin the adventure which you have just started. God bless, and thanks again.
It's been ten years, but I still miss him. He was my friend, my mentor and a man who's Godly life inspired me. I have saved every one of his letters he sent me. Forever the voice of the Tigers!
Ernie Harwell Was, Is & Always Will Be The Voice Of Detroit Tiger Baseball. God Bless You Ernie, Rest In Peace. You Brought So Many Memories To So Many & So Many Will Miss You & So Many Will Never Forget You.
Thank you Ernie Harwell. In the 31st, and most turbulent year of of my life, you came to Southern California and helped to bridge the ancient rift that exists between father and son. We didn't see much eye to eye in those days, but sharing a game with you bridged a gap, for which I will forever be grateful. Tiger fans were truly blessed, to have you there for so many seasons.
@xmanswdet That was exactly the same with my dad! Ernie Harwell's voice was as well-known in our house as all the family members' voices were. RIP Ernie, you blessed so many of us with your wonderful voice!!
RIP Ernie my friend.. Baseball will never be the same without your voice bringing us home. You were the heart of baseball, and that heart was broken in two the day you left
For me, it's my grandmother. We'd go to visit her just about every Sunday when I was a kid, and when it was during baseball season you'd pretty much invariably hear either Ernie's voice or Paul Carey's booming from the radio in her kitchen as you entered her house.
I'm not an emotional guy, but this punches me in the stomach every single time. His voice was the voice of my childhood. And what a classy, respectful, and dignified voice it was. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
As a young boy the Tigers were my very first love and Ernie Harwell is the individual who explained to me over the radio what was happening. It was the early 1970s. My dad worked at Ford Motor Company in Woodhaven, Michigan. The Oil Embargo hadn't happened yet. Times were good. The Tigers had Lolich, Coleman, Hiller, Freehan, Cash, McCauliffe, Brinkman, Rodriguez, Brown, Horton, Karine, LaGrow, Fryman and my favorite, Mickey Stanley. There were other names that temporarily filled voids, like Dick Sharon, Tony Taylor, Gary Sutherland, Duke Sims, Ike Brown and countless others. But it was always Ernie Harwell who kept me right there.
every time i here Ernie H. voice it reminds me of my dad, because baseball season there was my dad after work listening to tiger baseball, and when he retired he was still listening to tiger baseball, and the same unmistakable voice was there as well, Ernie on radio, these will be sweeeeeeeeet memories for me as long as i live !!!
I miss Paul Carey, too. Those two went together like peanut butter and jelly. If there was such a thing as a perfect human being, it's this man. Class act from start to finish. God bless you, Mr. Harwell.
From a Yankee fan, my prayers and condolences are with Tiger fans tonight. I have listened to Vin Scully and Joe Tait & Herb Score and Milo Hamilton as a child, when you sit and think how these gentlemen reached across generations and painted pictures in the summer nights that we envisioned on the back porch or in the yard as the lighting bugs flew in the air really made us forget life and it's troubles even if for just a few hours. The next announcer has BIG shoes to fill, have fun trying.
I'm a White Sox fan living in Michigan but have followed the Tigers for years. I'm happy I had the chance to grow up when Ernie was still broadcasting with Paul Carey, not a better broadcast team in baseball than that and it went along with what WJR was and that's truly the Great Voice of the Great Lakes because you'd go to bed with Ernie, Paul and the Tigers and wake up with J.P. in the morning. I have lost count how many times the last voice I heard at night was Ernie Harwell's and the first voice I heard in the morning was J.P. McCarthy's.
I didn't grow up a baseball fan so I don't have the same connection to Ernie most do, but after getting a job with the Tigers I was able to meet him, I'm glad I did.
What I love so much about those days is that you could listen as you were falling asleep on a summer night. And Paul Carey had enough sense to pretty much stay out of the microphone when Harwell was talking. Not like what you see today. The second Booth color analyst guys today judy Jibber jabbering most every different type of sport you watch or listen to these days. And I just loved that Georgian drawl. Rest in peace Ernie; and say hello to all the old Tigers up there.
God, I love this man. Ernie, the voice of the Tigers before the days of cable TV and internet broadcasts, was the voice of the Tigers to me in my childhood. He was the representation of the Tigers in the home of a boy whose dream was to some day replace Whitaker at 2nd on the corner of Michigan & Trumbull. I love you Uncle Ernie! P.S. Do you think you could pull some strings with the Big Guy upstairs so we can get a catcher who hits above the Mendoza line?
If I can be HALF as good a man as Ernie, my life will have counted for something. God Bless you Ernie. HLB (Heaven League Baseball) just got the best there ever was.
Tiger fans got "two for the price of one," with Ernie Harwell...When I heard he passed I "stood there like a house by the side of road." He is a "souvenir for the lucky fans in heaven." I was at game 5 in 1984 when the Tiger's won the world series...I was 9...Ernie Harwell was special...
Man, this LIFELONG Boston Red Sox fan is crying watching this tribute to the great Ernie Harwell!!! I KNOW heaven exists, I just hope they have baseball, and if they do, when I get there............................ I pray Ernie Harwell is calling the first game I get to hear on WHVN...
I'll always remember the voice of Ernie Harwell. back in the 1960s my brother and i used to huddle around my 9 volt transistor radio at night to listen to the Tiger ball games on WJR. We could barely here the radio station since Detroit was about 80 miles away, it would fade in and out. I can hear Ernie now, "its a full count,.... he winds and delivers,.... its a swing and a miss!....he struck him out". You will always be loved Ernie Harwell, rest in peace.
It must be a very sad day in Detroit. As a Phillies fan who lost Harry Kalas last year, I certainly know how Tigers fans must feel. My most sincere condolences to Tigers Nation!
My only regret is that I never got to meet you in person. You will be sorely missed not only by Detroit Tigers fans but by the entire MLB community. You were the best broadcaster who has ever stepped into a booth and called a baseball game. You had so many great quotes over the years, and I will miss you for as long as I live. May you rest in peace. I know that you are up in heaven calling their baseball games. Say hi to the long lost Detroit athletes for me.
thank you for taking the time out during a game to give me a shout out while i was at st. joseph mercy hopital in april of 87...you have no idea how many times i thought and thanked you during that month i was in there with 3rd degree burns to both legs and even to this day...God Bless You Ernie
tiger baseball is silent tonight with the loss of one of the great ones.i was just watching an old western. one cowboy said, it's quiet tonight. the second one says, yeah, too quiet. i know just how that second cowboy felt.
