Willie Horton, Jim Leyland and Frank Tanana reflect on Ernie Harwell 

No matter how old I got, I'd hear Ernie Harwell's voice on the radio and I was 13 years old again and be totally happy. Nobody else could do anything like that.

Ernie was a class act all the way. I LOVED listening to him. He made baseball come alive like nobody else. We had lunch with Ernie, people came to our table to ask for autographs, and Ernie would thank THEM for asking for his autograph. He was a solid Christian, too.

I only ever got to meet Erine once. I was a Junior Usher at Tiger Stadium in 1983. I grew up a Yankee fan, but loved watching the Tigers and listening to Ernie. I was sitting in the stands before the a game, with two other Jr. Ushers. Ernie came off the field (it was during Tigers batting practice) and I said, "Hi Ernie" as he passed by. He said, "Hi fellas!" with a smile. One of the other ushers said, "Don't say hi to him Ernie! He's a Yankee fan!" Ernie stopped. He walked back, put out his hand and said, "I always have time for a Yankee fan." I shook his hand and said, "Thanks Ernie!" He is the best! I am greatful that I will meet him, again, when my time comes.

Wonderful person who the Tiger fans adored. Gone too soon get never forgotten.

As a child, i loved Willie Horton, idolized him. The other kids in my all white neighborhood then teased me because i didn't know the difference between black and white. I got into some fights over this after, I was born in late 63 . I would still like to meet the man, at aged 56. So damned sad we see in color all these decades later

Man, Jim Leland got to me. Once a Tiger always a Tiger. Still miss, Harwell.

I remember this. Ernie's passing left a void that can never be filled. Never be another Ernie Harwell. It was the voice of my childhood listening to the Tigers on the radio for all those years. We even tried to get the day off when he died. We wanted to call it 80% for Ernie day. Meaning Going home from work with 80% of our pay. Management wouldn't do it.

There aren't too many people that you can say the more that you know about them, the more you respect and love them. Ernie Harwell was an integral part of what was an amazingly blessed childhood for me in Detroit, absolutely loved him as a kid, but the more I get to know about him, the more I love him! You just don't see the class and kindness that he emulated hardly ever anymore. My brothers and I just love the fact that he was only slightly partial to the Tigers, as opposed to these revolting homers that you see in every broadcast booth anymore. Not nearly as classy. Him and Paul both were the epitome of class, professionalism, and consistency. I love having full assurance that he is in Heaven! A rock-solid man of God, absolutely awesome!

He's looooooooooong gone, but never forgotten in the hearts of generations of Tigers, whether fans or player, whether from Michigan, Ontario, or beyond!

I grew up in Cleveland but still listened to Ernie because they had a strong station and he was the best announcer I ever heard, including Herb Score of the Indians. It would have been nice to see the Tigers name their stadium Ernie Harwell Park rather than making money from some corporation.

Beautiful and a great tribute to a wonderful man. As a Southerner, I cannot express my love for Ernie enough. From the corner of Michigan and Trumble...

Ernie Harwell was a huge part of my young life. From 1967-1975 I don't think I missed any Tiger radio games unless I was there at the stadium. Even then, I carried my transistor radio and had Ernie broadcasting even as I watched the game. Rest in peace Ernie! Bobby K

All major league players considered Ernie one of them. Unlike most announcers back then. He was probably the most respected announcer for players one of the reasons he never said a bad word about any player ever.

I'll always remember being in Madison, Wisconsin with my wife on a vacation, and I hadn't been in Michigan in years. I had moved to CA from hometown Ann Arbor after college, then Chicago, and was in Texas for a while, and I'd clean forgot about baseball, the Tigers, and Ernie. So I was in Wisconsin that night, looking for a station to set the clock/radio alarm to, and lo, and behold, thanks to clear-channel WJR, I'm picking up the Tigers with Ernie behind the mike, clear as a bell. I was absolutely stunned to hear his voice (my first thought was, "Can Ernie Harwell *still* be around?"), and then the memories poured out--I'm babbling on and on about how important he was to me in my youth (the transistor under the pillow, just like Ernie mentioned in his last broadcast), and how he inspired all of us Little-Leaguers to be better, and not just at baseball; he just made us feel like we were part of something bigger than we were. My wife is looking at me like I've lost my mind, because she was not into sports, and didn't know Ernie Harwell from Betsy Ross, and anyway, wasn't it time to hit the hay? How do you explain what it does to the imagination of a kid when the announcer says, "And a young man from Muskegon caught that one?" I mean, how did he know? There is just no other voice that can pack so many memories into just the sound of it--he could have been reading the phone book and it would have done the same thing. Vin Scully was the last announcer of that mold, his voice and delivery reminded me of Ernie's, but as much as Scully was from the big media market, and got more attention, to me he was the apprentice, and Ernie the master. God bless Ernie's memory for all he gave us, and now he can say, "And a young cherub from seventh heaven will take that one home."

Don Shane summed it up perfectly..... When you met Ernie , you knew you were in the presence of greatness. When he shook my hand and looked me in the eye, I have NEVER felt that way when meeting someone. I was totally disarmed & honored.

Another superior potato chips home run

He was the Tigers. I have never heard anyone say anything negative about the man. He was just the best at his craft. He and Vin Scully were just perfect for baseball.