Comments on: Ernie Harwell has terminal cancer

By: Tuan Lorraine

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By: the day the earth stood still

the day the earth stood still — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:44:21 +0000

What’s happend? I have to keep Refreshing the page to even be able to view the post can someone fix this issue please?

By: HEEL CUPS

HEEL CUPS — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:18:00 +0000

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By: Mark Brenner

Mark Brenner — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:23:40 +0000

I grew up in Boston, a Red Sox fan, but many times when the Sox played the Tigers, particularly when there was a rain delay, our announcer Ned Martin (also a another great announcer) would have Ernie Harwell come join him in the booth–and I got to listen to him. His love of the game and his down-to-earth decency came through loud and clear. You can’t fake class or sincerity–you either have it or you don’t, and Ernie Harwell had it.

By: K Mccraith

K Mccraith — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:46:06 +0000

If you tuned in the game and heard only crowd noise for many seconds… Ernie was probalby calling the game. One of the few who didnt talk just to hear himself talk

By: Jim Fox

Jim Fox — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:28:18 +0000

I met Ernie at a spring training game in Sarasota FL. I told him that I grew up in the Detroit area living down in FL. now he sat down took time out and sat and talked for awhile of old times when I was a kid. A great guy! Not many guys of his caliber would do that these days.

By: Doug Guido

Doug Guido — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:53:46 +0000

This is for those of you who, like me , grew up listening to Ernie. I was listening on my transistor radio – AM only – in ’60 or so when he said of a foul ball hit into the stands: “and a man from Grand Rapids Michigan caught that ball”. Since I was 10 at the time, I couldn’t figure out how he knew that. I guessed that he must have met the fans as they came into the stadium that day and recognized them when they caught the ball. It wasn’t until the next season, and a year older, when I heard him say: “and a man from Saginaw Michigan caught that ball” that I knew he was lying! I had a good laugh at my naivete, (I didn’t know that word then) and forgave him immediately.
Just one on mnay memorable moments we’ve had with this wonderful man.
We loves ya Ernie!

By: mike fisher

mike fisher — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:13:33 +0000

Really the two best, And what the Tigers really dtood for back in the day… I really do miss that voice calling the game and always knowing what city the fans came from.. Be well Ernie.. As for Al he was and is the greatest Tiger. I finally got to meet MY HERO about two years ago. What an honor. He truly is a fans ball player. Thanks to both of you.

By: Bobby Townsend

Bobby Townsend — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:56:11 +0000

Ernie is as upbeat about cancer as he is about everything else. One of his most memorable calls that stands out for me was his call of Dick McAuliff grounding into a game-ending double play against the Angels in the final game of the 1967 season clinching the pennant for the Red Sox. Just the sound of the voice and as disappointed as I know he was, he always tried to put a positive spin on it. He just gives you the game and thats all the listeners want. I can say the same about the Bosox announcers Joe Castiglione and Dave O’Brien

By: gary Wolner

gary Wolner — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:24:11 +0000

You stay with us Ernie, as long as you can….Do NOT go gentle! But go peaceful. One more game Ernie….so we can say goodby. HANG IN THERE OLD FRIEND!!

By: waterdoc

waterdoc — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:19:46 +0000

It is always sad to see a legend broadcaster leave us, as they were the eyes that looked for you as the game happened.
I am over 50, so hearing baseball games over the radio, was something that most people today, don’t even think about.
The description of the weather, the crowd, the smell of the newly cut grass… This was all shear poetry.
We have lost so many great broadcasters of the past during the last decade or two, and they will never be replaced!
I have to tip my hat to Ernie, as he has had made peace in his life, and respect that.
No doubt, Ernie will circle the bases and come home.

By: Timothy Rake

Timothy Rake — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:18:36 +0000

What can i say that has`nt already been said about this great man.I`m 54 and when i started following the Tigers it was rare to have games on TV.Mainly weekend games.So, like many others Ernie is the #1 reason that i am still such a passionate baseball (Tiger) fan.What a year, losing George Kell and the grand old ballpark,Tiger Stadium and Ernie all about the same time.If i could have one wish, i hope the Tigers will let Ernie do 3 more innings for us.Maybe let Ernie throw out the first pitch during a post-season game, and let Tiger fans cheer for him one more time.To show him how we feel about him!

By: William Johnson

William Johnson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:35:29 +0000

For Lo the Winter has passed, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
Spring will come next year and baseball will be played.. yet once Ernie has left us it won’t quite be the same. I’m reminded a bit of W.H. Auden to paraphrase:
He was the North, the South, the East and West,
Our working week, and our Sunday Rest,
Our noon, our midnight, our talk, our song.
We thought the voice would last forever. We were wrong.
God bless you Ernie. May God be between you and harm in all the empty places you walk.

By: BIGBRUCE11047

BIGBRUCE11047 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:28:04 +0000

Ernie Harwell’s name to the Tiger fans in like Vin Scully is to Dodger fans. I’m so terribly sorry to hear that Ernie has this cancer. When he goes it will be a big loss to baseball and a big loss to humanity. I grew up in the Los Angeles area and there was many a night that I fell asleep to the voice of Vin Scully describing the Dodger games. Ernie will be in my prayers daily and nightly.

By: Bob Bruce

Bob Bruce — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:23:03 +0000

Hi Ernie,
Always a nice guy and a real pro.
God bless and be with you through this trail.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:14:06 +0000

I’m in my 20s but i listened to Ernie from the year i was born to 2002. I was at his last game as an announcer and i remember the chant of Ernie’s name and seeing these people in their 30s and up tearing up as he drove around the field at Comerica Park . I remember during the 2006 ALDS I was in my dorm room and Ernie came on. I can’t recall who was pitching or batting but a yankee player struck out looking and Ernie’s call was “He stood there like a house on the side of the road and watched it go by.” I called my house and before the first ring finished my dad picked up and said i knew you were going to call after that one. It’s those memories that Ernie gave me and for that I say thank you Ernie, you will be missed by fans young and old.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:02:36 +0000

The direct link I cited doesn’t seem to work. Try http://www.thedeadballera.com/AudioPageErnieHarwell.html.

By: Phil Anderson

Phil Anderson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:56:00 +0000

I grew up with Ernie and George and the others, and all I can say is that while we seldom had the good team, we always had GREAT announcers!

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:54:22 +0000

As blessed as those of us on the West Coast feel about having Vin Scully, I know what a blessing it was for baseball fans in Michigan to have had the the gift of Ernie Harwell calling Tigers games. I was fortunate enough to have heard some of Ernie’s work on trips to Detroit as well as the one season we were honored to have him calling Angels games. A true gentleman and a tremendous voice of the game. Who can forget his classic “game for all America” – hear it at
http://www.thedeadballera.com/Audio/ErnieHarwell.mp3.
God Bless You, Ernie.

By: Ben Bonner

Ben Bonner — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:40:38 +0000

Living in Philadelphia I grew up listening Phillies announcers By Saam and Harry Kalas. After moving to San Francisco, I listened to Giant’s announcer Lon Simmons. All three of them excellent radio play by play announcers. I live in the Northwest now and was driving down the freeway a number of years ago and listening to post season baseball on the radio and kept asking myself “Who is this announcer? This guy is GOOD.” It turned out to be Ernie Harwell. Tiger fans, you guys were lucky to be listening to one of the best.

By: Duane

Duane — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:39:16 +0000

I grew up a tiger fan, i will always treasure those nights listening Ernie and George calling tiger games on WJR. I loved it when they had him on t.v. as a guest during a tiger game. I hate when things change and we lose such wonderful people. His calling of tiger games made me feel like i was there. I still have the transistor radio that i used those many years ago. I hope Ernie knows how many lives he has touched through the years. I am proud to say he made a great impression on me!!!!!!!

By: Clif

Clif — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:37:22 +0000

His voice will echo in my mind and heart for the rest of my days on this earth !
And when my time is up here and upon my passing , I hope to hear .. He’s Loooong Gone !
God Bless and keep Ernie Harwell !

By: Joe M (Formerly of Detroit) Lakeland

Joe M (Formerly of Detroit) Lakeland — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:32:17 +0000

How sad indeed…
As most of you have said, Ernie will be missed for sure. A pillar of the community, a baseball legend, and a overall nice guy.
I was looking forward to seeing him in Lakeland, Fl, as I just moved down here from Detroit.
Selfishly, I would love to see and hear him one more time… But, know how cancer can ravage the body, I hope that he doesn’t suffer long…
You will be missed Ernie…

By: Murray

Murray — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:25:49 +0000

Ernie is truly “one of a kind”…one of my most cherished memories,is of Ernie at spring training in Lakeland Florida… it would take him about 1/2 hour to get fom the ground to the broadcast booth, everyone wanted to chat and shake Ernie’s hand and ask for his autograph and when I moved to Windsor,on my own in 1968,listening to Ernie made me a Tiger fan forever.

By: kelley

kelley — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:22:10 +0000

i seem to recall ernie reciting something from the “song of solomon” every first broadcast of spring training… something about the turtle coming out of its shell, he made baseball poetry to listen to.
God Bless you Ernie!

By: Gman

Gman — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:12:11 +0000

Summer night under the sheets with a transistor radio plugged into one ear a flashlight and a score book/pencil in hand listening to the most wonderful full voice in the world describing my heroes. No matter how long he has, or how long I have, I will never forget those peaceful wonderful nights listening to Ernie Harwell. God bless you Ernie. I say the Tigers should win the world series for you and off to the good night.
Go Tigers…

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:58:16 +0000

Im not a Tiger fan, I’m a Jays fan and remember the 80′s with some degree of pain.
However, I also remember listening to Harwell in those games versus the Jays and it didnt take much time to realize how great this guy is.
Guys like Harwell turn baseball games into baseball culture. Tiger fans are very, very lucky to have had him.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:55:04 +0000

The voices of the game today just don’t match guys like Ernie Harwell, Bob Prince, Harry Kalas and Jack Buck. I miss these guys on the air…

By: Paul P

Paul P — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:47:02 +0000

Harwellisms: Foul ball down the third base line, and a young man from Houghton Lake (or fill in the blank) will take that souvenir home.
Strike three, he stood there like the house by the side of the road.
He was the best, it wasnt’t until I was almost an adult that I realized he had no idea who caught those foul balls.