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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Ernie Harwell, ageless voice of the Tigers, turns 90 on Friday

Bless you, Ernie.

As a 12-year-old in 1930, Ernie met Babe Ruth when the Yankees came to Atlanta for an exhibition game. Ernie didn’t have any paper for the Babe to autograph, and the outcome of that episode became the title of one of Ernie’s books: “The Babe Signed My Shoe.”

As a broadcaster in the 1940s and 1950s, Ernie got to know Ty Cobb. Theirs was a relationship between two Georgians—one who had taken over Detroit baseball by the storm of his playing talent, and one who would take it over by the pleasing, flowing river of his words. Cobb wasn’t known for making friends, but Ernie says that Cobb “was very good to me, he really was.”

Ernie is probably the only person you could meet in 2008 who met Mack, Ruth, Cobb—and Ted Williams.

Repoz Posted: January 22, 2008 at 06:36 AM | 19 comment(s)
Related News: General, History, Detroit, Media, Announcers

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1. schuey Posted: January 22, 2008 at 09:09 AM (#2673622)

I would think Ralph Kiner has met all four. He says in his book "Kiner's Korner" he was introduced to Babe Ruth early in his career. He almost certainly would have met Mr Mack despite being in different leagues.

2. Trevor Crowe T. Robot (Dan Lee) Posted: January 22, 2008 at 09:13 AM (#2673628)

I wouldn't be surprised if Bob Feller met all four, but that's really just a guess.

3. Craig Calcaterra Posted: January 22, 2008 at 09:15 AM (#2673631)

Harwell is responsible for me being a baseball fan and it's not even a close race. My family was not into sports at all, and if I hadn't randomly twisted a radio dial in 1977 or 78, landed on WJR and been transfixed by his easy Georgia drawl, I probably wouldn't have found baseball for many many years, and then it would have been at a far less impressionable age.

Happy Birthday Ernie.

4. Trevor Crowe T. Robot (Dan Lee) Posted: January 22, 2008 at 09:30 AM (#2673642)

Ernie Harwell made me a Tigers fan when I was in college in Northwest Ohio. I've always been an Indians fan first and foremost, but I spent an awful lot of summer nights with good friends, a cooler full of beer, and a radio tuned to WJR. When the Tigers won the pennant a couple of years ago, I was ecstatic for Ernie...I wondered if he had believed he'd be around long enough to see the next great Tigers team, and I was happy he got to see (at least) one more World Series.

Now that the Indians and Tigers are fighting for AL Cenrtral titles, I'm not quite as warm and fuzzy about the Tigers, but I'll always be an Ernie Harwell fan.

5. chemdoc Posted: January 22, 2008 at 10:49 AM (#2673715)

Ernie is incomparable.

6. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Marching Through Georgia

Posted: January 22, 2008 at 10:54 AM (#2673722)

One of the better $19.84 bargains on Earth is this 4 CD set of Harwell's interviews and reminiscences.

7. Whaddaya think of that, John Moore? Posted: January 22, 2008 at 11:26 AM (#2673754)

Happy 90th, Ernie. I hope the Tigers make it to the post-season again so Fox can let you call one more cameo inning.

Earliest memory of Ernie is riding in my dad's pickup truck down South with the radio tuned to clear channel WJR. Dave Wickersham was pitching, so that would make it about 1964.

8. John Lynch Posted: January 22, 2008 at 12:20 PM (#2673828)

Ernie Harwell was absolutely the greatest! Baseball is better for having been associated with him, and I am happier for having heard him. Happy Birthday, Ernie!

9. KingKaufman Posted: January 22, 2008 at 12:55 PM (#2673882)

I got to spend most of three days with Ernie during his last year in the booth, and that remains the highlight of my journalism career. Not the piece I wrote. Just the hanging out at the ballpark with Ernie.

10. Repoz

Posted: January 22, 2008 at 01:05 PM (#2673891)

Tiger Stadium...1969.

Me..."Who's that?"

Incredulous stranger at Tiger Stadium..."Ernie Harwell, the Tigers announcer."

Me..."Hi, Mr. Harwell...nice hat."

Harwell..."Well, thank you lad."

11. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: January 22, 2008 at 01:46 PM (#2673932)

Way to be sarcastic when you meet Ernie Harwell, Repoz.

12. RMc is the Commissioner of Baseball Posted: January 22, 2008 at 02:14 PM (#2673960)

Fun fact: Ernie Harwell was born in the same month and year as Gamal Abdal Nassar, Nicolae Ceausescu, Oral Roberts and Skitch Henderson.

13. Repoz

Posted: January 22, 2008 at 02:23 PM (#2673972)

Way to be sarcastic when you meet Ernie Harwell, Repoz.

Actually, I really meant it...as Ernie was/is the dapperist SOB you'd ever see.

We then went on to chat for a few minutes and he was as nice as could be to a twaddle like me.

14. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: January 22, 2008 at 03:24 PM (#2674052)

Ernie Harwell was born slightly before daylight savings time, the pop-up toaster, and the Battle of the Somme.

15. Teddy F. Ballgame Posted: January 22, 2008 at 04:37 PM (#2674133)

I've never really gotten to hear him, but a few years ago Harwell was a visitor to the booth during a FOX broadcast (maybe the All-Star Game in Detroit, now that I think about it) and Buck let him take the reins for an inning. My God, that was a pleasure. No unnecessary histrionics, just the right balance of commentary and silence, and score updates exactly when you wanted them, like he was reading your mind. He made the rest of the broadcast feel ridiculous.

16. Dag Nabbit: formerly tolerant of lactose Posted: January 22, 2008 at 04:48 PM (#2674156)

Ernie Harwell was born slightly before daylight savings time, the pop-up toaster, and the Battle of the Somme.

And only a decade after the last Cubs' title.

Note: Battle of the Somme was 1916, not 1918.

17. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: January 22, 2008 at 04:55 PM (#2674165)

Uh... I meant "some battle"?

18. Monty Posted: January 22, 2008 at 05:11 PM (#2674178)

a few years ago Harwell was a visitor to the booth during a FOX broadcast (maybe the All-Star Game in Detroit, now that I think about it) and Buck let him take the reins for an inning.

Wouldn't it be great if the All-Star game was announced by All-Star announcers? Like, Harwell for a couple of innings, then Vin Scully, and so on through the game?

19. 44magnum Posted: January 22, 2008 at 05:27 PM (#2674194)

Sure would, Monty. Those 2 really come off as the most selfless broadcasters, caring only about describing the action on the field and telling stories. I vaguely recall reading a Harwell interview with him talking about the 1000's of songs he's written and how every one of them is awful.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Ernie Harwell, ageless voice of the Tigers, turns 90 on Friday

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