I drove 45 minutes north into Michigan yesterday to pay my respects to one of baseball's great gentlemen, Ernie Harwell. Although I didn't grow up a Tiger fan and rarely got to hear Harwell's voice while he was actively broadcasting, I developed an attachment to Harwell from stories, books, and recordings. My dad, like me, is a baseball history buff. The 1968 Tigers were one of his favorite teams and he told me stories of Harwell before I really understood who he was. I remember hearing tales of an announcer traded for a catcher and a beloved baseball broadcaster fired by a University of Michigan football coach. Later in life, I realized this was Ernie. I bought my dad the
Complete Ernie Harwell Collection from the
Detroit Free Press one year for his birthday and, of course, bought myself the same collection. On long drives I often listen to the 4-CD set of Harwell's stories and broadcasts. Two years ago I took my dad to Comerica Park for a tribute to the 1968 World Series Champions. We sat about 8 rows right behind home plate (the best seats I've ever had for a major league game). At one point in the game I turned around to look up at the press box and there was Ernie in his trademark Greek fisherman's hat talking with the FS-Detroit television broadcasters. I was much more captivated by Harwell sitting above me for that inning or so than the game being played on the field in front of me.
The Tigers pulled off a very classy public visitation yesterday, fitting of Ernie. Comerica Park gates were open from 7am until midnight. Although as I understand, they stayed open until about 12:35am this morning because people kept coming. I'm guessing that half the state of Michigan passed through those gates yesterday. Ernie's body was placed just inside Gate A of the park next to his statue and surrounded by pictures and flower arrangements. I shook the hand of Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski upon leaving around 11:30am -- later I learned that he stood there for 6 hours that day. Outside there were several places for fans to leave written messages for the Harwell family. Parking was free in the Comerica Park lots. Half of one of the smaller lots was occupied by a plethora of TV news vans -- I saw several trucks from Canada.
Here are some of my pictures:
