I cannot imagine my childhood, my adulthood, my life without having heard the voice of Ernie Harwell calling Tigers games. He was a great man. One of my friends has a special needs son and he wrote Ernie. Ernie invited both to his home. He spent more than 2 hours with Ernie and his wife Lulu at Ernie's house with his son talking baseball, sports, autographs, everything. A true reminder of all that is great about humanity. Ernie always had it.
I cant watch this without my eyes getting watery. I’m 54 now but growing up in Northern Michigan, helping my Dad build our house, Ernies voice brings me back to that simpler time. My Dad never missed a game on the radio and i was there for most of them. I swear i can smell the charcoal grill grilling, the sound of the waves lapping up on the shore of Pickeral Lake...his voice is summer to me. Miss ya Dad and you too Ernie. RIP
I listened as a kid in Michigan and I’ll never forget the ‘68 season and for that matter the years before and that followed. He was a voice of reason during significant times of social unrest. Always a friendly voice to make you feel at home no matter where the game was! Even after moving to the mountains of SW Virginia I could hear WJR and that familiar voice which made my homesickness for the Great Lakes state more prominent. There will never be another like him and certainly no one that made me feel like I was at the corner of Michigan and Trumble no matter my actual location. At 65 the memories are vivid and fond. God bless old friend and I’ll see you again during the 7th inning stretch at that great ball game in the sky!
Listening and watching Ernie Harwell takes me back to better days. Childhood. His voice and pictures can just calm you down. God bless Ernie Harwell. Voice of my childhood.
Ernie, no one that has ever heard your legendary voice will ever forget you. You were the voice of summer in Michigan for 4 decades. You were simply the best and no one could ever forget what a kind and gentle man you were. R.I.P. Ernie you are deeply missed.
A remembrance of the past: winters in Michigan can be harsh and severe, so I remember my sister telling me some things about Ernie which still make me smile. First, she was writing a mystery novel set in Grand Rapids in 1943. She had a character who always listened to Tigers radio broadcasts. She knew I had covered the Tigers for a small paper in Ypsilanti and I helped her a little. But, I told her, if you want inside stuff on the '43 Tigers, you should write to Ernie Harwell because not only did Ernie broadcast Tigers games, but he was an historian for the team. Ernie wrote back to her with gobs of information. My other story involves a snow storm in March and my nephew, Nick, tuning in on the Tigers' first exhibition game. When he heard Ernie recite his ''Voice of the Turtle'' poem, Nick turned to my sister and said with a grin, ''Winter's over, Mom.''
I am a long time Detroit Tigers fan. Ernie Harwell was our announcer. Ernie told the story that when he was a young announcer, he met Babe Ruth. He wanted Babe's autograph but he did not have anything to write on so Babe signed the bottom of Ernie's shoe.
You weren't the only one The Good Lord blessed Ernie. He blessed every Tiger fan from that era who was fortunate enough to sit on the porch on those warm summer nights and listen to you broadcast on WJR. The only broadcaster people would carry to the ballpark with them. Even though they were seeing the game unfold right in front of them they still wanted you to tell em what was happening on the diamond. There will never be another Ernie Harwell. RIP Ernie and maybe when I make it back home you can explain to me exactly how it was you knew where every who ever caught a foul ball came from.
I play a baseball simulation game, APBA, and Ernie's voice gives the play by play in the computer game. At times, it takes me back to my childhood in the fifties and sixties in a wonderful manner.
It is goosebumps tonight. The voice taking me back to the 1970's. The Angels are in town and Nolan Ryan will pitch a no hitter. I am 10 years old and my clock radio plays the game in my bedroom on a warm summer night. WJR Radio signal is strong, but my radio produces a strange static. 50 years ago. God bless the memory of Ernie Harwell.
Grew up in southern Michigan, listening to Ernie call games in the garage with my dad. Great memories. We had a TV but the old man liked listening to Harwell so we would go out there instead.
We had the TV on with the sound off so we could listen to Ernie on WJR. “From the top of the Fisher Building.” “Brought to you by Stroh’s, America’s only Fire-Brewed beer.”
I truly absolutely LOVE this man. I always knew summer was here when I heard that amazing and wonderful voice of our boys... GOD I love and miss him... ‘and the kid from Ortonville MI just grabbed a foul ball...’ he is a legend... my very own ‘voice of summer’
There have been some great baseball announcers but I will take Ernie Harwell any day or night. He was the only voice of the Tigers and we were the most fortunate fans in America to call him ours. How many summer nights did you listen to Ernie when the Tigers were on the west coast or in Tiger Stadium? Thank you Ernie for painting my radio picture with your wonderful words and making me feel like I was your best friend.
Got to meet him on more than one occasion, but one time will forever remain with me and that is when my daughter and I spent 1 hour plus in the press booth on the roof of Fenway Park. The Harwell/Carey team will forever be one the very best in all of baseball! Miss both these guys on the radio!
Back when I was a kid, we’d play baseball at the park across the street from us, and we’d listen to Ernie call the Tigers game while playing. Great memories.
I’m not sure Ernie was a household name in America. However, two things are certain. If you are from Michigan or are a Tigers fan, you know who Ernie is and you love Ernie.
What can you say about Ernie? He was a part of my life, part of Michigan - he was a good man who lived a useful life. We listened to WJR Tiger games for years.
I was a kid and fell asleep to Ernie on my transistor radio often and always wondered how that man KNEW which city every person was from when a foul ball was hit! "That young man from Traverse City just caught himself a game ball!" In the morning I would get in trouble when I would ask my mom how did Mr. Harwell know?
Ernie was a poet who loved baseball and found a way to make his living sharing both passions with lucky Tiger fans for over half a century. He added so much to the games; I miss him. @Brian Pastoria, thanks for posting this!
Ernie's voice was tailor made for the crackling of a transistor radio. Still have fond memories of being at family reunions at Hines Park where every family seemed to be tuned into WJR as if Ernie was a member of their clans. His voice is as familiar to me as most anyone I know. Wish I could get a collection of great Tiger games or even plain ole everyday games to listen to at night when I go to sleep.
grew up listening to that man, thousands of games!! NOBODY WAS ANY BETTER!!!! Even when a rare Tigers game was on TV would still have my radio on & TV volume off.
This brought tears to my eyes. Ernie was not just the voice of the Tigers on radio. He was a gentile, humble, wonderful man. Here in Michigan, North West Ohio and South West Ontario, Canada, we were blessed for all those years with his presence. WJR had Ernie in the Summer, and Bruce Martyn in the Winter. What a wonderful time to be alive.
kyokogodai yes....very well said. The voice of summer was ernie. The voice of winter was bruce and sid. Those who question this will never understand what they meant to us
it's from the book of the Bible Song of Solomon chapter 2 verses 11-12. "For lo, the winter is past, 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." Spoken at first broadcast game of spring training every year.
Mr. Harwell was a true southern gentleman and a class act. I'm sure that he would have plenty to say about the Tigers' 2013 season and hopes for another World Series trophy.
Great vid but there's one thing i might correct. I don't think Ernies season opening reading was biblical. Rather, i believe it was something from the first nation people of our state. I could be wrong though.
I cannot imagine my childhood, my adulthood, my life without having heard the voice of Ernie Harwell calling Tigers games. He was a great man. One of my friends has a special needs son and he wrote Ernie. Ernie invited both to his home. He spent more than 2 hours with Ernie and his wife Lulu at Ernie's house with his son talking baseball, sports, autographs, everything. A true reminder of all that is great about humanity. Ernie always had it.
I cant watch this without my eyes getting watery. I’m 54 now but growing up in Northern Michigan, helping my Dad build our house, Ernies voice brings me back to that simpler time. My Dad never missed a game on the radio and i was there for most of them. I swear i can smell the charcoal grill grilling, the sound of the waves lapping up on the shore of Pickeral Lake...his voice is summer to me. Miss ya Dad and you too Ernie. RIP
Mike S Bless Mike.
I listened as a kid in Michigan and I’ll never forget the ‘68 season and for that matter the years before and that followed. He was a voice of reason during significant times of social unrest. Always a friendly voice to make you feel at home no matter where the game was! Even after moving to the mountains of SW Virginia I could hear WJR and that familiar voice which made my homesickness for the Great Lakes state more prominent. There will never be another like him and certainly no one that made me feel like I was at the corner of Michigan and Trumble no matter my actual location. At 65 the memories are vivid and fond.
God bless old friend and I’ll see you again during the 7th inning stretch at that great ball game in the sky!
Listening and watching Ernie Harwell takes me back to better days. Childhood. His voice and pictures can just calm you down. God bless Ernie Harwell. Voice of my childhood.
i get a tear in my eye every time i hear his voice
Jeff me too
Ernie, no one that has ever heard your legendary voice will ever forget you. You were the voice of summer in Michigan for 4 decades. You were simply the best and no one could ever forget what a kind and gentle man you were. R.I.P. Ernie you are deeply missed.
A remembrance of the past: winters in Michigan can be harsh and severe, so I remember my sister telling me some things about Ernie which still make me smile. First, she was writing a mystery novel set in Grand Rapids in 1943. She had a character who always listened to Tigers radio broadcasts. She knew I had covered the Tigers for a small paper in Ypsilanti and I helped her a little. But, I told her, if you want inside stuff on the '43 Tigers, you should write to Ernie Harwell because not only did Ernie broadcast Tigers games, but he was an historian for the team. Ernie wrote back to her with gobs of information. My other story involves a snow storm in March and my nephew, Nick, tuning in on the Tigers' first exhibition game. When he heard Ernie recite his ''Voice of the Turtle'' poem, Nick turned to my sister and said with a grin, ''Winter's over, Mom.''
Ernie IS the best... Legends never die
I am a long time Detroit Tigers fan. Ernie Harwell was our announcer. Ernie told the story that when he was a young announcer, he met Babe Ruth. He wanted Babe's autograph but he did not have anything to write on so Babe signed the bottom of Ernie's shoe.
You weren't the only one The Good Lord blessed Ernie. He blessed every Tiger fan from that era who was fortunate enough to sit on the porch on those warm summer nights and listen to you broadcast on WJR. The only broadcaster people would carry to the ballpark with them. Even though they were seeing the game unfold right in front of them they still wanted you to tell em what was happening on the diamond. There will never be another Ernie Harwell. RIP Ernie and maybe when I make it back home you can explain to me exactly how it was you knew where every who ever caught a foul ball came from.
I play a baseball simulation game, APBA, and Ernie's voice gives the play by play in the computer game. At times, it takes me back to my childhood in the fifties and sixties in a wonderful manner.
The spring time turtle poem !!!! Got tears in my eyes 🇺🇲
It is goosebumps tonight. The voice taking me back to the 1970's. The Angels are in town and Nolan Ryan will pitch a no hitter. I am 10 years old and my clock radio plays the game in my bedroom on a warm summer night. WJR Radio signal is strong, but my radio produces a strange static. 50 years ago. God bless the memory of Ernie Harwell.
he was the first voice I heard when it came to baseball . the reason I became a Tigers fan. Thank you Mr Harwell. you will be missed
Grew up in southern Michigan, listening to Ernie call games in the garage with my dad. Great memories. We had a TV but the old man liked listening to Harwell so we would go out there instead.
jefflott111 me too
he was the best part of the game
We had the TV on with the sound off so we could listen to Ernie on WJR.
“From the top of the Fisher Building.”
“Brought to you by Stroh’s, America’s only Fire-Brewed beer.”
Hard to see the screen as my tears roll down.
James Cargill feel ya
Me too.
I truly absolutely LOVE this man. I always knew summer was here when I heard that amazing and wonderful voice of our boys... GOD I love and miss him... ‘and the kid from Ortonville MI just grabbed a foul ball...’ he is a legend... my very own ‘voice of summer’
"No hits no runs no errors " "stood there like a house by the side of the road " "LONG GONE! "Miss you ernie
mick jones RHE
Also
“Nothing across for the Tigers in the ninth, and we’ll go to bonus cantos.”
“It’ll be the Earl of Wilson versus the Dean of Chance.”
There have been some great baseball announcers but I will take Ernie Harwell any day or night. He was the only voice of the Tigers and we were the most fortunate fans in America to call him ours. How many summer nights did you listen to Ernie when the Tigers were on the west coast or in Tiger Stadium? Thank you Ernie for painting my radio picture with your wonderful words and making me feel like I was your best friend.
We will always remember your name Ernie. Thanks for the memories.
He was Mr. Baseball in Detroit for years . I was lucky enough to meet him . Wonderful person.....
Harwell and Scully: the best ever.
Got to meet him on more than one occasion, but one time will forever remain with me and that is when my daughter and I spent 1 hour plus in the press booth on the roof of Fenway Park. The Harwell/Carey team will forever be one the very best in all of baseball! Miss both these guys on the radio!
he was able to make the radio a tv show in your head
Bud Tackett So true, so true.
Back when I was a kid, we’d play baseball at the park across the street from us, and we’d listen to Ernie call the Tigers game while playing. Great memories.
He’s the reason why I listen to sports on the radio!
A part of my childhood, that I thought would never end. I still listen to his old broadcasts to make me feel good. God bless, Ernie.
Same here !! Born in 60.
Check from outside Detroit 🇺🇲
Simply one word, "Ernie"!
This Ernie Harwell was truly one in a million! RIP
miss you Ernie!
I’m not sure Ernie was a household name in America. However, two things are certain. If you are from Michigan or are a Tigers fan, you know who Ernie is and you love Ernie.
I miss this voice
Ernie recites Song of Solomon 2:11-12.
What can you say about Ernie? He was a part of my life, part of Michigan - he was a good man who lived a useful life. We listened to WJR Tiger games for years.
Dee Donner Ramone mine too
Growing up in NW Detroit during the 1970s and 1980s, me, too.
I was a kid and fell asleep to Ernie on my transistor radio often and always wondered how that man KNEW which city every person was from when a foul ball was hit! "That young man from Traverse City just caught himself a game ball!" In the morning I would get in trouble when I would ask my mom how did Mr. Harwell know?
Especially games on the west coast.
I miss Sparky and Ernie spoken by a fan from South Riley , Michigan!
Ernie was a poet who loved baseball and found a way to make his living sharing both passions with lucky Tiger fans for over half a century. He added so much to the games; I miss him.
@Brian Pastoria, thanks for posting this!
Ernie's voice was tailor made for the crackling of a transistor radio. Still have fond memories of being at family reunions at Hines Park where every family seemed to be tuned into WJR as if Ernie was a member of their clans. His voice is as familiar to me as most anyone I know. Wish I could get a collection of great Tiger games or even plain ole everyday games to listen to at night when I go to sleep.
david Last Baseball on AM radio was positively magical.
He painted words, invented so many catch phrases they all use today, R.I.P. Sir Ernie
grew up listening to that man, thousands of games!! NOBODY WAS ANY BETTER!!!! Even when a rare Tigers game was on TV would still have my radio on & TV volume off.
This brought tears to my eyes. Ernie was not just the voice of the Tigers on radio. He was a gentile, humble, wonderful man. Here in Michigan, North West Ohio and South West Ontario, Canada, we were blessed for all those years with his presence. WJR had Ernie in the Summer, and Bruce Martyn in the Winter. What a wonderful time to be alive.
kyokogodai yes....very well said. The voice of summer was ernie. The voice of winter was bruce and sid. Those who question this will never understand what they meant to us
Northeast Ohio.
it's from the book of the Bible Song of Solomon chapter 2 verses 11-12. "For lo, the winter is past, 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." Spoken at first broadcast game of spring training every year.
Ernie was not one of the best, he was the best!!!!
Matt Radomski I completely agree
Mike “Doc” Emrick credits Harwell for learning how to be a humble professional...
Ernie and George Kell WERE Tiger baseball.
Mr. Harwell was a true southern gentleman and a class act. I'm sure that he would have plenty to say about the Tigers' 2013 season and hopes for another World Series trophy.
Bias yes. But Ernie and Paul were the best
me too!
Great vid but there's one thing i might correct. I don't think Ernies season opening reading was biblical. Rather, i believe it was something from the first nation people of our state. I could be wrong though.
"The Atlanta Crackers" Say what?