Tonight, we learned that legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell has died at the age of 92. Last year, Ernie revealed he had bile duct cancer and that he had months to live and he would not delay the inevitable. Ernie would live for about one more year after his reveal. During a ceremony last September at Comerica Park in Detroit, Harwell said goodbye to the Tigers fans who had come to love him over a 42 year broadcast career in Motown.
Harwell started his broadcasting career in Atlanta in the 1940’s. He made the trip to the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948 via a trade, the only broadcaster ever traded from team-to-team. Then after changing teams for a decade, he landed in Detroit in 1960 where he stayed until 2002 with the exception of 1992 when he was inexplicably let go.
Tom Gage of the Detroit News has Ernie’s obituary.
John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press looks back at Ernie’s amazing life.
Steve Kornacki of the Michigan Newspapers says he’ll have nothing but good memories of Ernie.
We’ll have more on this story as reaction continues to come in. Ernie exuded class and dignity throughout his life and also in death. He will be missed.
